Fortune favours brave as weary Wolves hit back
FEW CLUBS have been left bemoaning VAR more than Wolves this season. So much so that their fans now sing an X-rated song about it which they were belting out at St Mary’s.
Captain Conor Coady has been one of its biggest critics, calling the new addition to Premier League armoury ‘ridiculous’ and ‘stupid’ among other things.
As recently as Wednesday they had more grounds for complaint when a VAR check combined with the new interpretation of the handball law saw what Wolves thought was an opening goal from Pedro Neto in their FA Cup replay at Manchester United ruled out.
So when three calls went in their favour en route to this stunning comeback at Saints they would have been forgiven for changing their tune.
The first goal scored by Neto, who had efforts ruled out at Anfield and at Old Trafford, was briefly in doubt following a handball review, Wolves’ second came from a penalty after they were initially awarded a corner and Raul Jimenez’s winner was allowed to stand despite what looked suspiciously like an Adama Traore handball in the build-up.
Manager Nuno Espirito Santo said: ‘We are speaking so much about VAR. The message is sent by the fans in the stadium, I don’t want to repeat it, but it’s so clear and evident that something has to be done. And I’m confident something will be done. It’s not about the referees, it’s about making things clearer and better.’
Luck was on Wolves’ side but fortune also favoured the brave at St Mary’s. In their 39th game of an already gruelling season and after a demanding run that has included two meetings with United plus trips to Liverpool and Manchester City, Wolves somehow summoned up the spirit, energy and quality to overturn a 2-0 half-time deficit.
No wonder Jimenez barely had the energy to celebrate after burying what proved the winner with 14 minutes left.
Nuno added: ‘It’s been demanding but we are aware of how and who is doing things. We didn’t abandon our tasks. The spirit is good and credit to the boys.’
It was going to take something special to stop Southampton. Only Liverpool and Man City had won more points than them in their previous ten games. Wolves’ fightback was certainly that.
After a promising first few minutes of the game Wolves lost their way and Southampton needed little encouragement.
The only surprise was the nature of their goalscorers. Jan Bednarek finding the net at all was unexpected. That his strike to open the scoring with just his second goal for the club was a beautifully cushioned volley from James Ward-Prowse’s free-kick only added to the shock.
Ten minutes before half-time another unlikely scorer, Shane Long, doubled the lead, finding the net with a header on the run from Cedric’s inviting right wing cross.
It was the goal-shy striker’s first since last April and he buried the chance without hesitation.
Nuno admitted ‘we said a lot of things at half-time,’ included a move from the left wing to a central position for Traore.
Wolves were out for the second half well before Southampton and the response Nuno was expecting eventually came. Seconds after Long headed against the post Traore crossed for Neto to score, his goal given after his awkward attempt to control was subject of a VAR check for handball.
Another review followed 12 minutes later. Jack Stephens took out Jonny in the box, referee Darren England awarded a corner before changing his mind on the advice of VAR Craig Pawson and Jimenez coolly scored from the spot to make it 2-2.
Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl said: ‘Mentally we had absolutely lost our way then. As everybody knows I’m a big fan of VAR. It makes the game fairer. But the final decision should be the referees. I asked him why he didn’t look on the screen and he said he couldn’t do it because he could only look for a red card.’
Yet it was the winner which looked the more contentious goal.
Traore’s handball on the halfway line was ignored, he and Jimenez played a long-distance one-two which ended with the Mexican clinically burying the winner to cap Wolves’ thrilling comeback.
SOUTHAMPTON (4-4-2): McCarthy 7; Cedric 7, Stephens 6, Bednarek 7, Bertrand 6; Armstrong 7 ( Djenepo 71min, 5), Ward-Prowse 7, Hobjerg 6, Redmond 7 (Boufal 78, 5); Ings 6, Long 7 (Adams 71, 6). Booked: Ward-Prowse. Subs (not used): Gunn, Vestegaard, Romeu, Obafemi.
WOLVES (3-4-3): Patricio 6; Dendoncker 7, Coady 7.5, Saiss 6; Doherty 7, Neves 7, Moutinho 7, Jonny 6.5; Neto 7.5 (Kilman 86, 5), Jimenez 8, Traore 8. Booked: Neves. Subs (not used): Ruddy, Jordao, Gibbs-White, Giles, Ashley-Seal, Buur.
Referee: D England (South Yorkshire) 6.