Wolves 2 Southampton 0 – Report and pictures

A fairly uneventful first half saw Jonny Castro Otto test keeper Alex McCarthy, while Rui Patricio had to block from Mohamed Elyounoussi.

The drab nature continued after the break but Cavaleiro broke the deadlock after great work from Adama Traore and Raul Jimenez.

Then Jonny Castro Otto sealed the win with three minutes left after being teed up by Matt Doherty.

Analysis

Wolves' only real weakness in the opening weeks of the season has been a lack of composure in front of goal. Step forward Ivan Cavaleiro.

The Portuguese forward has been sorely missed so far this season despite Wolves' impressive start, writes Tim Spiers at Molineux.

And here he took just two minutes to make the desired impact on what had looked for so long like being a frustrating afternoon.

Wolves required patience and persistence to break down a stubborn Southampton outfit who were doing a very effective job of quelling their usual free-flowing passing game. The physical Saints tackled, fouled and intercepted Wolves all over the park, while rarely threatening Rui Patricio's goal.

It looked like a dead cert for being last on Match of the Day...but their super-subs Cavaleiro and Adama Traore changed all that, before Jonny Castro Otto sealed the points after great work from the impressive Matt Doherty.

There's more that one way to skin a cat and Wolves will come up against all sorts of different methods and tactics in this league of wildly contrasting styles.

So far they're answering almost all the questions posed of them – and look at home in the Premier League. For a club that's only spent four years in the past 34 in the top flight, that's quite something.

Match report

It was no surprise to see Nuno name the same team for a seventh consecutive league game.

There was one alteration on the bench though with Ivan Cavaleiro named in a league squad for the first time this season. Morgan Gibbs-White dropped out, but there was no place for Leander Dendoncker.

Southampton boss Mark Hughes selected both Charlie Austin and Danny Ings up front as they looked to bounce back from last Saturday's 3-0 defeat at Liverpool.

Despite the Premier League new boy status Wolves were big favourites going into the game (you could get 4/1 on a Southampton win) and the home team set about trying to dominate from the off.

The first 15 minutes were played out almost exclusively in Southampton's half, with the visitors resorting to regularly fouling Diogo Jota and Helder Costa in a bid to stop them breaking free. Indeed, Jannik Vestergaard chopped down Jota on three occasions near the Saints box, but referee Stuart Attwell kept his card in his pocket.

Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho had opportunities to punish the visitors from the resulting free kicks, but failed to beat the wall.

After 10 minutes came the first real chance for the hosts. A well-worked move saw Costa skip past Wesley Hoedt and feed Matt Doherty – his low cross fell to Jonny Castro Otto whose shot from 15 yards was pushed wide by keeper Alex McCarthy.

Jota hesitated when well placed after good work from Raul Jimenez and Ryan Bennett headed a Moutinho corner straight at the keeper as Wolves controlled the game.

But then Southampton began to find a foothold and create a few opportunities of their own in what was a one-sided spell of about 10 minutes.

Austin flashed a shot wide, Ings' deflected effort whistled past the post and Rui Patricio had to block from Mohamed Elyounoussi who had ghosted in behind Otto.

Wolves weathered the storm and ended the half on top. A gorgeous Neves 50-yard rake to Doherty saw the Irishman, in front of watching Ireland assistant boss Roy Keane, cross low for Jimenez whose snap-shot on the turn was saved by McCarthy. The striker then headed over from Moutinho's cross.

It was a pretty even first half but Wolves were nowhere near their best – they lacked their usual tempo and aggression in the final third and the ball just wasn't sticking up top often enough. Southampton were doing a good job of disrupting their flow with a physical – and smart – defensive display.

Nuno was forced to make a change early in the second half when Costa succumbed to a knee injury after he fell awkwardly under Ryan Bertrand's challenge. Adama Traore was his replacement.

Approaching the hour mark it was all a bit flat – Wolves were still lacking inspiration and urgency. Southampton's tackles, fouls and interceptions were successfully stopping Wolves from generating any momentum.

A packed house tried to rouse them but chances remained few and far between. Doherty's quick ball down the line to Jimenez saw the Mexican striker cross low and first time...but Jota wasn't even in the box to meet it. It summed up Wolves' performance – they just weren't quite on it.

Southampton probed at the other end but rarely tested Patricio, who dropped a regulation Vestergaard free kick but then gobbled it up at the second attempt. With 17 minutes left to play Nuno's team had yet to muster an attempt on goal in the second half.

It was insipid and pretty dull to watch – nothing compared to what we've seen in recent weeks. When Neves se

Nuno gave Cavaleiro his Premier League debut in place of Jota with 77 minutes on the clock, shortly after Patricio had to save from Stuart Armstrong who should have done better from close range.

It had that feeling of a Southampton late winner about it...but from nowhere Traore sparked Wolves into life – and then into the lead.

He buoyantly raced down the right flank with all the wild abandon of Theresa May in a field of wheat, beat his man and crossed low for Jimenez who, just like at Old Trafford last week, collected and teed up a team mate, this time Cavaleiro who smashed past McCarthy from 12 yards to send Molineux potty.

The place was transformed – and so were Wolves who nearly doubled their lead when Jimenez flicked on Moutinho's cross with a great header, only to be denied by a superb McCarthy save.

It was all Wolves now. They were full of confidence and swagger and had absolutely no intention to sit on their lead.

They deservedly doubled it when Doherty showed great persistence to get to the byline (he never does that) and played to Otto who fired low past McCarthy from close range for his first goal for the club.

They saw out five minutes of stoppage time with ease as an adoring crowd sang their hearts out.

Key moments

10 – Otto's shot from Doherty's cross is saved by McCarthy

79 – GOAL – Traore races down the right and crosses for Jimenez who cleverly tees up CAVALEIRO to smash home

82 – Fantastic save from McCarthy to keep out Jimenez's header

87 – GOAL – Doherty tees up OTTO who beats McCarthy to seal the win

Teams

Wolves (3-4-3): Patricio; Bennett, Coady (c), Boly; Doherty, Neves, Moutinho, Otto; Costa (Traore, 52), Jimenez, Jota (Cavaleiro, 77). Subs: Ruddy, Hause, Saiss, Vinagre, Bonatini.

Goals: Cavaleiro 79, Otto 87

Southampton (4-4-2): McCarthy; Soares, Hoedt, Vestergaard, Bertrand; Redmond, Hojbjerg, Lemina, Elyounoussi (Armstrong, 71); Austin (Gabbiandini, 77), Ings. Subs: Gunn, Yoshida, Targett, Romeu, Davis.

Attendance: 31,147

Referee: Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire)

League position

8th (12 points from seven matches)

Next up

Wolves travel to face Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park next Saturday. Kick off it at 3pm.