wolves fans talk about three big points earned against southampton
JOHN TARAS
GEORGE LAKIN
Job done.
The performance was by no means glamorous but it was professional and workmanlike (yet again).
We let them have the ball as expected and contained and absorbed them relatively well. That was always Pereira’s plan and it was carried out well- it was never going to be pretty but it matters very little, the bigger picture is absolutely everything today…
The international break is now upon us and it’s time to take stock.
When Pereira walked into the club in December, make no mistake, we were an absolute mess. We’d just lost 4 very winnable games on the trot, and had seen back to back ugly post-game spats. Not to mention, we sat 5 points from safety. We looked broken. Rotten to the core. And I for one thought we were down after that loss at home to Ipswich.
Regardless of how bad the other teams have been since then, The prospect of heading into April 9 points clear (provided Leicester lose tomorrow) was unfathomable. Yet here we are.
Kudos, Mr Pereira. A proper manager. Now go finish the job. We might even be able to somewhat enjoy the rest of the season!
Also, a special mention to Strand Larsen for stepping up and silencing his critics (myself included!), two clinical finishes have won us the game today; something the entire game-plan ultimately depended on.
KARL WHITEHOUSE
We started the game nervously, giving Southampton plenty of possession and allowing them chances in our defensive third that could have caused problems.
Strand Larsen gave us the lead, despite being isolated up front with no real support. This goal will be a confidence booster for him, especially after some doubts were raised about his recent performances. It was exactly what he needed to respond to the critics.
Defensively, we stepped up when necessary. Toti and Agbadou were solid, intercepting key plays and blocking threats aimed at our goal.
However, our pressing game was lacking in the first half. This needs improvement if we want to maintain or extend our lead, as Southampton remain a threat and could turn the game around at any moment.
The second half started strongly for Wolves, with an early goal to double our lead. Strand Larsen stepped up once again, delivering in Cunha’s absence and securing his second goal. This was vital, as it allowed us to avoid sitting back too long on a narrow 1-0 advantage.
Despite the strong start, we were guilty of sitting too deep at times, allowing Southampton to build momentum. They managed to score after a mistake in our backline, making for a nervous ending where one error could have cost us dearly.
In the final moments, we focused on game management to see the result through. While our pressing was still minimal, it was effective enough to hold off Southampton and secure the win.
This hard-fought victory extends our gap to nine points, especially with Ipswich’s result going in our favor. We’re now incredibly close to securing Premier League safety for another season.
With a two-week international break ahead, it’s crucial that we carry this rhythm into the final stretch of the season to continue our momentum.
PAM WELLS
Our game today was against the Saints at St Mary’s. Despite Southampton being rock bottom with only 9 points, we couldn’t afford to take them lightly as every team around us is fighting to stay in the league.
Southampton started with high pressing and numbers, but they didn’t create much danger until around the 10th minute. Their right-back delivered a dangerous cross that could have led to a goal, but our defence cleared it just in time. We pressed in patches but not with much pace or cohesion, and it wasn’t until the 19th minute that we broke through. Bellegarde went on a brilliant run and delivered a perfect cross to Larsen, who headed it past Ramsdale with precision. The relief on Larsen’s face was clear—it was great to see him back on the scoresheet.
The goal sparked us into life. Bellegarde, in particular, was electric. At one point, he picked up the ball deep in our half and made a stunning run up the pitch. Unfortunately, no teammates were there to support him in the final third, missing an opportunity to capitalise on his effort.
We went into halftime with a narrow 1-0 lead. The question was: could we make it count?
There were no changes at the break, and it didn’t take long to get an answer. In the 47th minute, Larsen scored his second of the game after another outstanding assist from Bellegarde. This early second-half goal extended our lead and put us in a stronger position.
Vitor then made substitutions, bringing Sarabia on for Bellegarde and Guedes for Munetsi. However, instead of pushing for a third goal, we sank deeper and allowed Southampton to press hard. They came close on several occasions, and we invited unnecessary pressure.
Sarabia missed a golden chance to seal the game, and Southampton punished us shortly after, scoring in the 75th minute. Their goal was a result of the pressure they’d been building throughout the second half.
Vitor responded with more substitutions to shore things up, and we managed to hang on in what became a nerve-wracking finish. It wasn’t our best performance—we looked a little hesitant and nervous—but the result was all that mattered.
With this win, we are now 9 points clear of Ipswich. We’ll have to wait until tomorrow to see if that same gap holds against Leicester.
For me, the man of the match was a close call between Bellegarde and Larsen. However, with his two crucial goals, I’d give the honour to Larsen.
Performance rating: 7/10.
We can now head into the international break with at least a 9-point cushion over one of our rivals. Come on, lads—let’s keep up the pressure and finish the season strong!