Liam Keen analysis: A crucial win for Wolves and Gary O'Neil in the relegation race

The performance could have been far better on the day against a weak Southampton side, but a 2-0 win ending a winless run this season and securing a first clean sheet in 23 Premier League games was just the tonic Wolves needed.

Gary O'Neil entered this game coming under plenty of fan and media scrutiny and with the likelihood that a defeat could spell the end of his time at Wolves.

With that in mind, to start Pablo Sarabia was a brave decision.

The Spaniard was dreadful the week before against Crystal Palace and his substitution was cheered by the Molineux faithful, so to start him the week after was courageous from O'Neil.

It was a decision that was ridiculed and questioned on social media, but just two minutes into the game O'Neil's call was justified as Sarabia netted the opening goal.

The forward did not have a huge impact on the rest of the first half, which was more down to Wolves' approach to the game, before he came off at half-time.

But it took guts from O'Neil to make that decision and he was vindicated. On another day that call does not pay off and Wolves suffer for it, but on this occasion the head coach got it right.

The performance after going 1-0 up certainly did not get fans off their seats but looking at the game objectively, it was never going to.

Southampton dominate possession against most teams and build up slowly. Wolves, rightly, did not press them high up the pitch as it would give the Saints an opportunity to play through them.

However, Wolves were a bit too passive in their defensive third and could have engaged the opposition a bit earlier.