Soccer

Pedro Neto earns Wolves a much-needed win at Southampton

Danny Ings put home side ahead before the visitors came back to earn second win in 11

Pedro Neto of Wolves celebrates after scoring the winner in their Premier League clash with Southampton. Photo: Andy Rain/EPA

Ben Fisher at St Mary's
Sun Feb 14 2021 - 14:42

Southampton 1 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2

In the build-up to this match Ralph Hasenhüttl had struck a philosophical tone, insisting that Southampton planned to make the most of the sunshine on the back of a gloomy run. As evidenced in defeat here, when it rains, it pours.

Wolverhampton Wanderers were second best until being controversially given a route back into this contest, Rúben Neves scoring a penalty after Ryan Bertrand was penalised for handball, before Pedro Neto took matters into his own hands, curling home to earn his side a precious comeback victory and a second win in 11 Premier League games.

Southampton looked on course to earn their first league points since that humiliation at Old Trafford, which was followed by defeat to nine-man Newcastle. Danny Ings’ exquisite strike deserved to win any game but in the end the result hinged on Graham Scott’s decision to award Wolves a penalty eight minutes into the second half. Nélson Semedo’s cross from the 18-yard box zoomed towards Bertrand, just a couple of yards away, and the referee immediately pointed to the spot.

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Bertrand had turned his back but the ball rifled towards him and brushed both arms. The crestfallen left-back shook his head in disbelief and on the touchline Hasenhüttl was apoplectic. “What can he do?” the Southampton manager roared.

No doubt his mind went back to the video assistant referee’s decision to allow Matty Cash off the hook here last month, when the Aston Villa defender escaped being punished for handball on the basis it scraped his thigh en route to his arm. Like Villa, Wolves were able to toast victory, though there was no doubting the quality of Neto’s winner. He shuffled beyond Jannik Vestergaard, who was stuck in the mud at the byline and the Wolves winger curled a rasping strike into the far corner of Alex McCarthy’s goal.

Things had looked so promising for Southampton, with Nathan Redmond forcing Rui Patrício into a fine left-hand save early on before Ings applied the finishing touch to a marvellous team move that encompassed eight players.

It began with McCarthy nudging the ball to Jan Bednarek and, nine passes later, the ball crashed into the back of the Wolves net. Stuart Armstrong did superbly to skip away from Semedo before teeing up Ings to blast home a first-time volley. Hasenhuttl erupted on to the pitch in joy – and then later in anger. – Guardian