Jimenez double seals fightback as Wolves rediscover their bite
Wolves have already played more than a season’s worth of games but are showing no signs of slowing down.
In their 39th game in all competitions, they clutched victory from the jaws of defeat against a resurgent Southampton thanks to a brilliant second-half performance, capped by two goals from Raul Jimenez, who now has eight in the Premier League.
“We said a lot of things [at halftime],” said Nuno Espirito Santo. “We were aware of the situation in the first half, Southampton was much better than us. The boys did amazing so I’m very proud of them.”
Everything was pointing towards a Saints victory after they led 2-0 at the interval. It had been the happiest of new years for Ralph Hasenhuttl who described the last four weeks as “almost perfect” and praised his team’s “unbelievable mentality” but he was angry at the circumstances of Wolves’ second and third goals. “I am a big fan of the VAR but the final decision has to go with the referee,” said the Southampton manager about the award of Wolves’ second-half penalty. “I asked him why he didn’t look on the screen and he said he cannot do it unless it’s a red card or something like that. The one thing is take the decision in the stadium, not somewhere else. And the other thing is be clear when you can look at the screen and when you can’t.”
Southampton soon got about their opponents with their relentless pressing which had meant only Manchester City and Liverpool won more points in
previous 10 games. They led through an unlikely source, Polish central defender Jan Bednarek, who expertly hooked James Ward Prowse’s free-kick into the far corner after Wolves had failed to clear.
Southampton fans know things are going well when even Shane Long is scoring and the Irishman got his first of the season after 35 minutes when Stuart Armstrong tirelessly fought to keep the ball from going out and Cedric whipped in a dangerous cross Long stooped to head in. Long then struck the outside of a post with a header from Nathan Redmond’s cross at the start of the second half. Wolves’ small squad have been hampered by injury. “We still have to bring players that can help us and improve us,” Nuno said afterwich wards regarding his team’s brutal fixture schedule. The ones he has did not let him down: Adama Traore, alongside Jimenez, lit up the second half. The muscular Spaniard found space down the right to cross low for Pedro Neto to turn well and fire past Alex McCarthy after 53 minutes.
Southampton’s defence was beginning to wobble and Cedric and Jack Stephens sandwiched Jonny Otto as he advanced into the area and, after a lengthy video assistant referee check – to Hasenhuttl’s frustration – the penalty was given. Jimenez coolly converted and the match was back in the balance as Hasenhuttl acted quickly to bring on Moussa Djenepo and Che Adams in search of a winner. They almost found one when Redmond ran infield and fired a 20-yard shot off the top of the crossbar.
But it was Wolves who struck again as once more Traore powered free down the right and slid the ball across the area, where Jimenez was waiting to sweep into the far corner. The Mexican’s second was only confirmed after another VAR check with Traore seeming to handle the ball in the build-up, but it stood. “Congratulations to Wolves for this second half,” said Hasenhuttl. “They showed how you can turn the tables. Because of the second half we didn’t deserve to get
something.”