Express & Star

Wolves Fans' Verdict v Southampton: Mixed emotions

Our fans give their thoughts on Wolves' 1-1 draw with Southampton.

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Matt Cooper (Talking Wolves)

Reaction to the Result

Yet again we are talking about VAR having a massive impact on a Wolves game. I’m not a fan of it at all but it’s something we are going to have to get used to. Southampton could perhaps feel more aggrieved than Wolves for the penalty decision. On paper, it feels like two points dropped but Wolves probably didn’t do enough on the day to warrant three points if the truth be told.

Man of the Match

It was one of those afternoons where no player really stood out for Wolves but Jimenez was probably the pick of the bunch. It’s a credit to his tenacious attitude to have goals disallowed yet he still kept working hard which eventually paid off.

Something to Improve

Wolves were at sixes and sevens defensively after Bennett came off injured and Vallejo replaced him. Vallejo was sloppy in possession and it was his loose pass that led to the goal – albeit Coady was at fault for it. It’s another defensive error that’s led to a goal from Wolves - something Nuno will have to address immediately.

Clive Smith

Reaction to the Result

Not the result or the performance we hoped for and it was back to earth after being on cloud nine for almost two weeks. The game ebbed and flowed as our form fluctuated. A streetwise opposition took full advantage of a poor ref and VAR did us no favours again. We responded well to going a goal behind and deserved the point at the very least.

Man of the Match

Jonny gets my MOTM, he provided plenty going forward while looking solid defensively too. A word of praise too for Patricio for an excellent save from a free-kick. Jimenez led the line well.

Something to Improve

Our passing was below par at times and we struggled in the last half hour when they had five or six men pressing with a high line. We could not find an outlet ball and failed to pick up the second ball often enough.

Adam Virgo

Reaction to the Result

Being at home, these are the games you’d ideally want to win but before City, we’d have 100% taken four points from these two league games. Not a great performance but I think a draw was a fair result, VAR got the decisions correct so I’m not going to complain about that, however the referee was so poor. I feel like towards the end he was guessing with some decisions trying to even the game up, either way we didn’t do enough to win and now we have another big week ahead of us.

Man of the Match

Raul Jimenez was very good I thought. His link up play and everything about his game looked sharp, I was never in doubt when he took the penalty because he always scores and a little unfortunate with the two disallowed ones. Jota looked lively when he came on and Doherty provided a good outlet down the right hand side too.

Something to Improve

We need to cut out errors because we got punished again for making them at the back. Danny Ings must have thought Christmas came early because he was handed an absolute gift by us. Shocking from Vallejo to begin with which has caused the goal, not great from Coady either but it shouldn’t have even got to that position. The more errors you make, the less chance you have of winning games and being consistent, and now with some injuries piling up, these next few weeks are going to be a big test for us.

Rob Cartwright

Reaction to the Result

This felt like a defeat, more than a draw. An overwhelming feeling of injustice all due to technology and rule changes designed to make the game fair. VAR will destroy the beautiful game. The drama makes it entertaining for the armchair supporter, but does nothing but confuse and deflate those in the stadium. Maybe, this is what the FA authorities wanted to achieve. Wolves were not at their very best here. We started very well, with good tempo, but looked disjointed at the back when Bennett was replaced by Vallejo, after 18 mins. That said, we were comfortably the most likely to score and I’m sure if we had scored first we would have gone on to win the game. Jimenez was robbed of a hat trick and Wolves should have won 3-1. Last season and every other season in the last 100 years we would have won 3-1. The first goal did look like handball; but how was it any different to Deli Alli’s goal for Tottenham on the same day? Two similar incidents viewed differently by VAR! The second goal was not worthy of debate. Cutrone’s boot laces were not interfering with play. I don’t care what the “new” rules say, he was not offside. To make matters worse, 22 players thought it was a goal, the referee thought it was a goal, two assault stunt refs thought it was a goal. 31,000 fans thought it was a goal. We were on the second verse of Si Senor before VAR revealed it was under review. I believe the game had actually restarted from the centre, before the referee intervened. It's pathetic.

Man of the Match

I thought Jimenez was immense and looked much sharper for the two weeks break. Full of running, on and off the ball. It would have been a good reward to have scored his first hat-trick for Wolves. Jota returned from injury for the last half an hour and he too looked sharp. This is good news as we miss his runs with the ball and determination when trying to break quickly.

Something to Improve

I hope Bennett’s injury is not too bad. With Saiss already out we are looking short of cover in defence. I’m not convinced Vallejo is quite up to Premier League for quickness of thinking and accuracy of passing. His ball out for their goal was awful; reminiscent of our reserve defenders of the 70’s. In our general play, we have to increase the tempo, especially at home. In this game, we started well but did not maintain it throughout. We never seem to do great after the international breaks. I’m not sure what we can do about this, but it is now an obvious trend.

Russ Evers (Hatherton Wolves)

Reaction to the Result

Too slow, by far, in passing and movement and recovering from the usual post-international break blues. We still did enough to beat a poor Saints side who capitalised on an error initially caused by another defensive failing by the seemingly error-ridden Vallejo.

Man of the Match

Dendoncker and Jimenez all game, with good substitute showings from Doherty and Jota.

Something to Improve

Cut out ridiculous schoolboy errors made mainly by Vallejo and return to a more pacey game.