Dave Porter shares key takeaways, standout moments, and what this result means for Wolves Premier League survival hopes.
1. Great Result
In a season filled with ups and downs, Wolves fans finally have something to cheer about. Before we delve into the game itself, the most important aspect was the result. This was a significant day in a turbulent season, and the outcome’s importance should not be underestimated.
It would have been very typical of Wolves to turn up against a team that is statistically and realistically one of the worst the Premier League has ever seen, only to fluff their lines. However, to come away with a massive three points and stretch the gap to fellow relegation contenders to nine points (ten with goal difference) was, in the end, all that mattered.
It would take something absolutely cataclysmic for Wolves not to retain Premier League status next year. The men from Molineux would have to go on a run far worse than anything they have experienced since their return to the Premier League, and either Ipswich or Leicester would have to achieve results far beyond anything they have managed to date. While it’s not over, the maths are very much in Wolves’ favour, and this result felt pivotal to the final league standings.
2. Not So Great Performance
Southampton are terrible. This should not have been close; this should not have been hard work, but it was. Wolves were clearly a few levels above the opposition today, and this should not have been a game requiring any drama or heart-racing moments. But this is Wolves, and nothing comes that easy.
Putting aside the missed chances for a moment, Wolves’ inability to keep the ball became beyond frustrating at times. Simple passes went astray, and there was an inability to retain possession. This was just not a good Wolves performance. You will struggle to find a worse endorsement for Premier League standards than this one. Southampton were a poor side playing poorly, and Wolves looked like a team that seemed a weird mix of nerves and confidence.
Wolves knew they were the better team, and at some points, you felt that if they wanted to, they would go on to win comfortably. But it felt almost masochistic in the way they seemed to want to find a difficult way to win. It was a horrible watch, one that left me personally with a mix of emotions—pleased to have won but angry with the way in which it was achieved. This was a great result achieved in a needlessly tortuous manner.
3. The Mad Couple of Minutes
Wolves are two goals to the good and attacking four versus two. Southampton look like a boxer begging to get hit on the chin so they can hit the deck. A minute or so later, Southampton score and are suddenly back in the game. I am struggling to remember a time that I have been angrier with any passage of play than this one.
Similar to the equaliser Wolves scored against Brighton, less decisive on the scoreline but much worse in terms of the play itself, all Guedes needs to do is find a pass. Any pass will do. Left, right, maybe even walk straight through if you fancy it. What happened here is inexcusable. A ‘pass’ of sorts eventually came but was the worst choice of all possible options and was so late that Wolves players had all run offside. Even if it wasn’t offside, the chance was still wasted. A minute later and Southampton are back in it
If Wolves had not gone on to win this game, I expect we would be talking in a lot more detail about this moment. One of, if not the most rage-inducing and almost negligent bits of football you will ever see.
4. It’s All About the Defence
Yes, Wolves were up against a poor team playing without a recognised centre forward, and yes, they still conceded a goal scored by one of the worst strikers you will ever see. That shouldn’t stop us from admiring one of the biggest changes following a mid-season managerial change, and Vitor Pereira has to take some real credit here. Wolves, under new guidance and with the addition of Agbadou, look like a team that can defend properly.
It’s a massive change from O’Neil’s Wolves, who were free-scoring but conceding goals at will. Wolves, albeit without Cunha, now look short of depth and quality up front, but there are no longer any such issues at the back. Wolves have quietly done the groundwork here for a defence on paper that is cause for some real optimism. The back three again today were excellent and protected as ever by the Brazilian terriers in front of them. If Wolves can keep this together in the summer, it could be the foundation of something really special.
5. Six Letters, Four Goal Involvements, Three Points
It’s four points from two games in the Cunha suspension period. The question was always going to be, without Cunha, who steps up? Today, it was the turn of JSL & JRB; the men with six initials and four goal contributions between them. The goals were far more significant in terms of their worth than their execution, but Wolves set the challenge in Cunha’s absence, and today, this pair delivered.
It’s now nine goals in the season for JSL, which is a decent return. There may be doubts about his strength and hold-up play, but JSL can play with the ball at his feet and, crucially, he can finish when given the chance (Newcastle and Nottingham Forest aside). By the time Cunha returns to eligibility, Wolves will hope that the gap has remained sufficient enough with enough points in the bag for the season to be effectively over. If that is the case, it will be interesting to see what happens with the departing Cunha.
In the meantime, it does no harm for JRB’s assists to continue to increase and for JSL’s goals column and confidence to swell.
6. Nearly There, Safety in Sight
This has been a horrible season on and off the field. The type of season that ordinarily sees you relegated, and Wolves are probably fortunate that they have had such a bad season when the league has three worse teams. Wolves will want to do more than stay up by default, though. With nine games still to go, Wolves will feel that they should get to a points tally that at least flirts with respectability and show that this wasn’t just owing to there being three substandard teams in the league.
Wolves will also want to avoid the now seemingly annual trail off in form that brings malaise and a whole heap of poor metrics into the following season. It’s not done yet, of course. Wolves will want to get closer to West Ham after the international break and make the game with Ipswich as much of an irrelevance as possible. It’s a season that no one wants to go through again, and if Wolves do get across the line, then some serious strategic rethink is required to ensure this is not repeated.
Quietly, though, Wolves have some really positive signs for next season already. Adding Mosquera to the back three is eye-raising, and if Wolves can retain Gomes and Andre in midfield for at least another season, the spine looks very strong. Additions will be needed and quality added up front, but if Wolves do survive, which it looks like they now will, next season could be something to look forward to after a well-earned summer break for us all.
ARTICLE BY DAVE PORTER
Wolverhampton born, East Sussex based supporter. Old enough to have seen the descent to the bottom, young enough to not have experienced the days my friend. Not many Wolves fans to celebrate or commiserate with round these parts, so had to find an outlet to discuss the enormous highs, crushing lows and share the frustrations that only come with following Wolves.