WATCH FOR OUR PREVIEW & PREDICTIONS
TEAM NEWS
Hwang Hee-chan may rejoin Wolves’ squad after getting back to training. Sam Johnstone has also bounced back from a groin issue and is ready to play. However, Yerson Mosquera, Enso Gonzalez, Sasa Kalajdzic, and Boubacar Traore are still unavailable.
Rayan Ait-Nouri, Joao Gomes, Nelson Semedo, and Toti Gomes are just one yellow card away from suspension.
Meanwhile, Adam Lallana could feature for Southampton, even though he was taken off at half-time in the victory over Everton due to a slight groin concern. Ryan Fraser, along with Gavin Bazunu, Ross Stewart, and Will Smallbone, remains unfit for action.
GARY O'NEIL
- On forward Hwang Hee-chan, who has missed the past three games with an ankle injury: “He trained today with the group, and he looked sharp. He trained a little bit on Wednesday. He is back fit. We’re just trying to pick the right time for him to be back involved, whether that is tomorrow or waiting a few weeks through the international break.”
- On team news: “Sam [Johnstone] is fine. He was expected to be involved last week but suffered an illness on the day of the game, so he missed out. He has trained all week. There have been a couple of minor issues throughout the week, but we expect everyone to be OK from last weekend.”
- On why the club is currently bottom of the Premier League table: “Lots of things have gone on at the football club. Lots of things have happened on the pitch. I take full responsibility for my part in that as well. We are where we are, and there is nothing we can do about the last ten games. The next one is the only one we can affect right now, and the focus, prep, and everything that has gone into it has gone very well. I know the boys are looking forward to the next challenge.”
- On whether the club is supportive of him, O’Neil said: “I don’t ask the club for any backing or support. I am very comfortable sitting in this seat and on the side of the pitch. I understand that is the nature of the job. I am very comfortable in my own skin and in the work that is done here. Since the moment I have been here, I have given absolutely everything. There have been some challenges thrown at us, which I have always faced head-on.”
- On Southampton: “I think it feels like an important game, but Crystal Palace did, Brighton did—they all do. Of course, I understand there will be a lot made of this game outside because it is two teams down the bottom at this moment, and it feels like there will be a lot riding on it momentum-wise going into the international break. But I treat all of the games as huge games.”
- On Russell Martin, Southampton manager and O’Neil’s former Norwich team-mate: “I got on with Russ very well at Norwich. Yeah, maybe we were a bit moany. I think we wanted things done properly, which is probably why we ended up doing what we do. He was a good captain for us. It’s been interesting to follow his journey as well and the way his teams play. Southampton obviously picked up their first win last week and had some very good performances, playing in a distinct fashion, so they will be a real test for us tomorrow.”
MATCH STATS & FACTS
Head-to-head
Wolves have won five consecutive top-flight games against Southampton, their longest Premier League winning streak versus a single opponent.
Saints beat Wolves 3-1 at St Mary’s in April 2019 but that is their only victory in the past 14 league meetings.
Southampton’s only Premier League win at Molineux was by 4-1 in April 2004, when Kevin Phillips scored two late goals.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolves could fail to win any of their opening 11 league fixtures for just the second time. It also happened in 1983-84, when they went winless in their first 14 top-flight games and were eventually relegated.
The 2-1 victory against Luton on 27 April is their only win in 20 Premier League matches.
They have gone 22 consecutive top-flight fixtures without a clean sheet, conceding multiple goals in each of the past seven.
Gary O’Neil’s side won all three of their home league games against newly-promoted opposition last season, all by a single-goal margin.
Santiago Bueno celebrates his 26th birthday on the day of this match.
Southampton
The 1-0 victory against Everton ended their winless run of 22 Premier League games and a streak of 21 top-flight matches without a clean sheet.
Saints last won back-to-back Premier League fixtures in February 2022, when they beat both Everton and Norwich 2-0.
A ninth consecutive top-flight away defeat would be their worst run since 1993, and one shy of a club record set in 1974.
The last time they avoided defeat in a Premier League away game was a 3-3 draw at Arsenal in April last year.
Russell Martin’s side have scored seven league goals this season, fewer than any other side.
Adam Armstrong, who has five goals in 75 Premier League games, is vying to score in successive top-flight appearances for the first time.
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Thomas Bramall. Assistants: Scott Ledger, Akil Howson. Fourth official: Dean Whitestone. VAR: Chris Kavanagh. Assistant VAR: Ian Hussin.
MATCH INFO
The match kicks off at 3pm on Saturday 9th November, this one will not be shown live on TV in the UK.