Jimenez is leader of the pack MEXICAN BARES HIS TEETH
SOUTHAMPTON 2 WOLVES 3
RAUL JIMENEZ reminded fellow striker Danny Ings and Southampton there’s still a divide between top dogs among the scrappers and those hounds relentlessly on the tails of the thoroughbreds.
The Mexican striker scored twice as dogged Wolves came from 2-0 down to stay in touch with the top four and another European adventure next season.
Southampton were looking upwards themselves after a storming run of seven wins in 10 games, but here they were given a sharp cuff round the ear from a hungry Wolves team whose energy defied the fact this was their 39th game of the season.
Brilliant Portuguese teenager Pedro Neto led the fightback with the first goal, before Jimenez’s penalty and a 76th-minute winner overcame Saints goals for Jan Bednarek and Shane Long.
Ings – this week’s flavour to replace Harry Kane at the Euros this summer – was kept on a very tight leash, leaving it to Long to score for the first time since April.
Once more, VAR played its heavy hand – overturning a penalty decision that enabled Jimenez to score from the spot to make it 2-2 and then dismissing a handball claim against Adama Traore that might have ruled out Jimenez’s winner. Wolves manager
Nuno Espirito Santo admitted both sets of fans’ blunt rejection of VAR makes him uneasy and said: “We speak so much about VAR every week and it’s still not clear.
“When you hear what the fans in the stadium think of VAR – I don’t want to repeat it – but is shows that something needs to be done.”
His job here was to lift a team 2-0 down at the break and the response – as Neto, Jimenez and Traore pulled and tugged Saints out of shape – was impressive.
Nuno added: “Southampton were much better than us in the first half. They were aggressive on the ball, but we adjusted in the second half and did much better. It has been demanding, but we know each other very well and we enjoy the challenge of competing.
“Players have to react in the games themselves and provide solutions. I’m proud and today was very important to us.”
Crucial to Wolves’ cause was Neto’s poise, elegance and finishing power. Had the 19-year-old not had goals wiped out by VAR at Anfield and Old Trafford, he would now have four in six games.
“He had two moments of individual glory taken away from him, but he’s a young boy and he deserved what he got today,” added Nuno.
Saints manager Ralph Hasenhuttl had only one complaint about his team’s failure to hold on to their lead – the fact that referee Darren England did not look at touchline screens to rule on Jack Stephens’ foul on Jonny for the penalty.
“Congratulations to Wolves for their second half – they showed how you can turn the tables even if in the first half you are far away from getting something,” said Hasenhuttl.
“It hurts and it would be easier to accept if the second goal hadn’t happened that way.
“Everyone knows, I am a big fan of VAR. It makes the game more fair.
“But the final decision in these moments should be with the referee.
“I asked him why he didn’t look at the screen and he said he cannot do it.
“He said he can only do it for a red card but I think it’s dangerous if the final decision is not taken in the stadium.”
SOUTHAMPTON WOLVES 5 ............. Shots on Target ........... 4 5 ............. Shots off Target ........... 3 1 ................ BlockedShots ............. 1 1 ...................... Corners ................... 3 13 ....................... Fouls .................... 12 2 ..................... Offsides .................. 2 2 ................. Yellow Cards ............... 1 0 ................... Red Cards ................ 0 70.8 .... Passing Success %...63.7 54 ................. Duels Won ............. 68 44.3 ....... Duel Success % ...... 55.7 13 ..................... Tackles .................. 13 53.8 ........ Tackles Won % ....... 76.9 52.8 ......... Possession % ........ 47.2 58.5 ...... Territorial Adv % ..... 41.5 401 ............. Total Passes ......... 366 24 .............. Total Crosses ............ 14 182 ............... Lost Balls ............. 183 65 ................ Recoveries .............. 75 49 ............ 1st Half Poss % ........... 51 57.2 ....... 2nd Half Poss % ..... 42.8