Wolves edge past Southampton for first win of the season

Bruno Lage had endured 12 league games without a win for his Wolves team, but this was 13th time lucky, as they saw off a Southampton team who had defeated Chelsea in their last game.

It was pointed out to him that there was chanting of his name from the Molineux crowd at the end. “Also in the beginning,” quipped Lage.

The Portuguese manager was able to joke about that support he is receiving - but this was a win they appeared to desperately need, with Liverpool and Manchester City as their next two opponents.

Lage has had time, remoulded the squad and changed the tactical approach from his predecessor Nuno Espirito Santo’s system - so he needed this success.

His recent club record signing, £38 million man Matheus Nunes, was influential here, delivering a well-judged cross for fellow Portugal-capped player Daniel Podence to score.

“I take responsibility,” said Lage, who wants patience. “What I want is not relief. I want the players to have confidence.

“I just said to the players that the three points gives us the tranquility to play at our level.”

It was far from tranquil at times in the second half as Southampton gave them a few scares, with Che Adams having a goal disallowed for use of an arm and also hitting the bar from a header.

Ralph Hasenhuttl, the visiting manager, refused to blame Adams for failing to strike though, saying they would support the player - but he looked pained by their failure to score.

The Southampton manager, whose team had arrived here in the top half, felt the Wolves goal was preventable. They failed to keep a Premier League clean sheet away for the 17th time in a row, a new club record.

The effort was there from the visitors, who gave a rough time to Wolves’ new signing Sasa Kalajdzic.

The 6ft 7in Austria striker, who joined from VfB Stuttgart, needed treatment for a bleeding lip after a tussle with Southampton defenders - then was substituted off at the break, soon after being hurt in a challenge with Mohammed Salisu.

Lage said afterwards that the player “felt a little pain” but that his problems are “nothing special”.

Wolves had the better of the first half while their opponents also had some threatening moments in attack. Nunes’ delivery from the right, dabbed in by Podence just outside the six-yard box, provided the breakthrough.

Adams’ two moments of danger were the closest Southampton came in the second half.

“It’s one of the most hurtful defeats,” said Hasenhuttl, who switched his formation several times. “We tried everything to turn things around. We tried to spin the wheel.”