Wolves boss stays cool on Saiss howler
BOSS Nuno Espirito Santo refused to blame Romain Saiss after his horror miss cost Wolves victory at Aston Villa yesterday.
The defender lifted the ball over an open goal from pointblank range after Conor Coady’s header came back off the post as Wolves drew 0-0 at Villa Park.
Ollie Watkins and Ezri Konsa hit the woodwork for the hosts during a bright first half but Wolves recovered after the break and should have won.
Nuno said: ‘He should have done better but the mistake is something we are always supportive of. There is no problem. Saiss must be proud because he fought really well.
‘It was Coady first, the header of Coady, I know him very well and he could have done better but credit to him because it’s something we are pushing him to go into the box. He has been able to find good positions.
‘We had good chances and we improved a lot in the second half. The first half was not so good.
‘Everything changed in the second half. It (a poor first half) is something we have to try to improve on. I wish I knew why.
‘We have to reflect and try to find the why and then the how to stop it.’
Elsewhere, Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder reflected on the home defeat to Southampton as a game too far for his depleted squad.
The relegation-haunted Blades were unable to build on their morale-boosting midweek win against Aston Villa, which offered a glimmer of hope that they might be able to pull off the greatest of escapes.
But Saturday’s 2-0 loss, a 22nd Premier League defeat of the season, leaves Wilder’s side 12 points adrift of safety with just 10 matches remaining.
It was an all too familiar story – playing well, making chances, but shooting themselves in the foot at the other end with poor defending and individual mistakes.
‘I thought it was a great opportunity, but the better side won,’ said Wilder, who was without Phil Jagielka, Chris Basham, Jack O’Connell, Ireland defender John Egan, Jack Robinson, Jack Rodwell and Sander Berge through injury and suspension.
‘There wasn’t a lot in it in the first half but in the second half we looked tired in body and mind. In the second half we made mistakes, gave the ball away cheaply and allowed them to build momentum.
‘Our second half was extremely poor. It looked a game too far for us. I’m looking back at it now thinking we needed to make some changes – but we can’t. We looked tired. It was a difficult watch for me, the second half, and the correct result happened.’
Ralph Hasenhuttl marked his 100th game as Southampton manager with a long-awaited and much-needed victory.
Goals from James Ward-Prowse and former Blade Che Adams gave Saints a first win in 10 matches and stopped their alarming slide, moving them 10 points clear of the bottom three.
‘We knew it was an important game for us as we hadn’t won in a long time, it gives you the belief,’ said Hasenhuttl.
‘There was no reason to panic as we knew we had some injuries and hadn’t had our best side on the pitch. To compete in the Premier League you need your best players on the pitch and when we have that we are a different side.’
In the late game last night, Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester kept up their drive for Champions League qualification when fighting back to secure a late win away to Brighton.
Adam Lallana gave the hosts the lead after 10 minutes and the Seagulls held out in the face of concerted Leicester attacking before the Foxes levelled through Kelechi Iheanacho after 62 minutes.
Both sides had chances but the game appeared to be heading for a draw until Daniel Amartey pounced for the winner on 87 minutes.