RAUL’S BACK IN BUSINESS
Jimenez bags brilliant first goal since horror injury
W
HEN Raul Jimenez ditched his protective headband for the closing stages of the game against Brentford last week, it was a clear sign that he was no longer feeling the effects — mental or physical — of his sickening injury.
Confirmation that he is back as a goalscoring force came against Southampton yesterday.
With a stunning individual effort in the second half, Jimenez netted his first goal since returning from the horror skull fracture last season which threatened his career.
It was a strike that was worth the wait as the Mexico striker tormented and teased Southampton’s centre backs Jan Bednarek and Mohammed Salisu before slotting the ball home and sprinting off to celebrate in front of the away fans.
Just as encouragingly for Wolves, it was a moment reminiscent of Jimenez at his pre-injury peak — like when he scored twice here to inspire his side to a memorable second-half comeback win from 2-0 down 18 months ago.
The Southampton air seemingly brings the best out of the Wolves striker and he said: ‘I knew the goal was coming. I was fighting for it and all the team deserve it. It felt really good.’
Wolves manager Bruno Lage said: ‘It’s important for him, a special goal for Raul. The way he scored the goal, you can see the same Raul as before.
‘Since the first day, I saw a guy with big ambition to come back, play and score goals for us and today it happened — but he knows he needs to continue to score goals.’
Jimenez’s winner was hugely significant for him personally and for Wolves as a club.
This was only their second league victory under new boss Lage and one that lifted them above Southampton, who missed a presentable opportunity to put a more positive spin on their start to the season.
Had they added a first Premier League win to their four draws — including against three of last season’s top six — Ralph Hasenhuttl could have reflected on a respectable start.
Instead, his side’s search goes on and the pressure waiting for a league success — which he referenced ahead of this game — will go up a notch.
Chelsea at Stamford Bridge are next up for Southampton, who have now failed to score in their last three league games. Hasenhuttl, whose side were booed off at the end, said: ‘I understand the frustration. If you don’t win games and don’t score goals, you are frustrated. We are also frustrated.’
The opening seconds suggested an entertaining afternoon in store. But, in truth, the rest of the game, Jimenez’s goal aside, did not live up to its start.
From Wolves’ first attack, Daniel Podence and Jimenez combined to send Nelson Semedo through on goal as he bombed on from right wing-back.
His shot was too close to Alex McCarthy and the Saints keeper pushed the ball away.
There were only 48 seconds on the clock at the time but that was as good as it got for Wolves in the first half.
Southampton threatened for the first time in the fifth minute when Romain Saiss blocked an effort from Mohamed Elyonoussi, who opted to shoot from long range when passing to the wellplaced Che Adams seemed a better option.
The opportunity came from a misplaced Leander Dendoncker pass and it was not the only time Wolves created their own problems at the back. Southampton were guilty of some groaninspiring, tension-increasing panic defending, too, and struggled for cohesion, while lacking intensity in attack until a late first-half flurry. Nathan Redmond had a stylish goal ruled out for offside before Adam Armstrong tried his luck from outside the box following Jose Sa’s second display of dodgy distribution. Sa was key to Wolves’ clean sheet, however, and he eventually made it third time lucky with his kicking. He stayed big at his near post to prevent Valentino Livramento putting the finishing touch to a sweeping Southampton move, before producing a double save to keep out Elyounoussi and Adams. At the other end, Jimenez delivered a couple of warnings that he was warming up by getting into promising positions and forcing Southampton into some frantic, last-ditch defending. The next time he threatened, he scored the game’s only goal. Sa launched the ball towards his forward, who still had plenty to do as it dropped out of the sky. But he outmuscled Bednarek, cut inside Salisu to leave him on the turf, then dummied the bamboozled Bednarek, who thought he had got back into position. After all that, Jimenez maintained the necessary composure to coolly slot the ball past McCarthy. Hasenhuttl responded with attacking changes for Southampton, introducing Armando Broja, Moussa Djenepo and Shane Long. But Wolves frustrated their hosts and might have scored a second goal when Jimenez gave Oriol Romeu the same treatment he had dished out to Bednarek and Salisu. SOUTHAMPTON (4-2-2-2): McCarthy 7; Livramento 7, Bednarek 6.5, Salisu 7, Walker-Peters 7 (Long 74min, 6); Romeu 5.5, Ward-Prowse 6.5; Elyounoussi 6, Redmond 7 (Djenepo 64, 6); Armstrong 6, Adams 6 (Broja 64, 6). Manager: Ralph Hasenhuttl 5. WOLVES (3-4-3): SA 8; Kilman 7.5, Coady 7.5, Saiss 7.5; Semedo 7.5 (Hoever 87), Dendoncker 7, Moutinho 7, Marcal 7; Hwang 6.5 (Neves 88), Jimenez 8, Podence 7 (Traore 71, 6). Scorer: Jimenez 61. Manager: Bruno Lage 7. Referee: Andy Madley 7 . Attendance: 28,002.