THEO WALCOTT bagged the 100th Premier League goal of Ralph Hasenhuttl’s Southampton reign – a mere 4354 days after his last Saints strike.
However Nuno Espirito Santo pulled off a masterstroke when he sent on Pedro Neto and went for broke – a move which paid off when the Portuguese striker struck a deserved equaliser against Southampton.
Theo Walcott scored as Southampton drew 1-1 at WolvesCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Pedro Neto bagged an equaliser for the hosts in the 75th minuteCredit: Getty Images – Getty
This was a game both side’s desperately wanted to win but in the end they both applauded their rivals off the field and a draw was a fair result when the dust had settled on a brilliant battle between two sides desperate to be in the shake-up at the top end of the table at the end of the season.
Wolves suffered a couple of crippling Covid blows before a ball had been kicked with confirmation that Moroccan defender Romain Saiss had tested positive for the virus while on international duty.
That meant the 30-year-old was forced to self-isolate – in common with club captain Conor Coady – who missed England’s recent internationals after an NHS Test and Trace confirmed he had come into contact with a person who had tested positive.
In the grand scheme of things that was unfortunate rather than disastrous for the pair.
But it was hard not to sympathise with Coady who was forced to miss a Premier League game for Wolves for the first time since leading them back to the top-flight, having played every minute of his side’s last 84 fixtures.
The Wolves stalwart had twice tested negative so it must have been even more frustrating for him to be denied the opportunity to make his 120th consecutive appearance in all competitions as he closed in on Phil Parkes’ club record of 127.
Coady was also robbed of the chance to become the longest ever-present in Premier League history as he fell at the 85th hurdle – agonisingly within touching distance of Leighton Baines (99 consecutive appearances and record holder Wayne Bridge (112).
However Coady would have been the first to point out that his teammate Max Kilman deserved the sympathy and respect of the whole football family after bravely playing so soon after the death of his father.
Walcott put Saints ahead at Molineux in the 58th minuteCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Neto played the role of supersub as he came off the bench to scoreCredit: Eddie Keogh Telegraph Media Group
He formed a new-look back four as Nuno ditched his favoured back-three.
Southampton weren’t slow to try and press home any advantage and swept forward confidently with the swagger of a side chasing it’s fourth consecutive Premier League win for the first time since May 2016.
Wolves spent the opening minutes on the rack as Ryan Bertrand tested them with a couple of wicked crosses, forcing Kilman to concede a corner and Neves to head clear from under his own crossbar under pressure from Che Adams.
However the home side soon rediscovered their mojo and only the brilliance of Saints stopper Alex McCarthy prevented them from taking the lead.
Joao Moutinho thumped a free kick into the defensive wall and Nelson Semedo pounced on the rebound to smash in a fantastic low drive which McCarthy brilliantly parried out.
Leo Dendoncker seemed certain to bury the rebound when he smashed it goalwards but somehow McCarthy produced a stunning reflex save to deflect the ball over with his right shoulder.
It was a hard-fought match between two sides looking to break into the top of the tableCredit: EPA
Wolves looked to stars like Joao Moutinho after being hit with coronavirus problemsCredit: Reuters
Not to be outdone, Rui Patricio then got down brilliantly to hold a Theo Walcott shot after Stuart Armstrong had sent him clear in the box.
It was end to end stuff from two confident attacking teams with pace to burn.
Saints had a hopeful penalty claim waved aside by ref Andre Marriner after a Vestergaard header bounced off Semedo’s arm and for once VAR agreed!
Armstrong then passed up the best chance of an entertaining first half when Adams sent him clear with a slide-rule pass but the Scotland midfielder’s shot narrowly wide as he slid in for the kill.
At the other end McCarthy was beginning to bug the home side as he produced another breath-taking save to flip over a flashing Podence header.
Tempers flared as Neves went in late in a 50-50 with Oriel Romeu – which turned out to be a 51-49 in the Spaniard’s favour!
Adama Traore was a threat down the right as Wolves switched to a back fourCredit: Reuters
Southampton rued some missed chances including one from Che AdamsCredit: Reuters
Both benches then exchanged insults after Romeu entered the pitch to break up a Wolves break – seemingly without permission – before Traore was booked for a foul on Djenepo.
Thankfully the half-time whistle ended hostilities briefly.
Although Wolves were none too happy with ref Marriner when Saints scored early in the second period.
They argued play should have stopped when Armstrong barged into Rayan Ait-Nouri’s back to leave him pole-axed.
However Saints were within their rights to play on and although Adams first cross was blocked by Kilman his second attempt sped across the face of Wolves goal where Theo Walcott was waiting to score with a simple tap in.
It was the forwards first Saints goal for 5434 days since he scored against MK Dins in the FA Cup back in January 2006.
It was a night to remember for Walcott as he scored after returning to his old club in the summerCredit: Reuters
Neto had the final say as both sides applauded each other at the whistleCredit: Getty – Pool
However he fluffed the chance to add a second when he raced clear to spring Wolves offside trap – only to drag his shot wide with only Patricio to beat.
Wolves were becoming frustrated and must have felt it wasn’t to be their night when Moutinho produced a cunning free kick which left top scorer Raul Jimenez in the clear. But the Mexican’s first touch let him down.
Nuno sent on Pedro Neto for Neves and what a difference it made as the sub earned his side a point with 15 minutes remaining.
Podence and Moutinho carved out an opening for Jimenez whose shot smashed off the base of McCarthy’s post.
But Neto was following up to slam home the rebound to grab Wolves the point they probably deserved at the end of a thrilling 90 minutes.
Wolves welcome new signing Nelson Semedo from Barcelona in £29m transfer
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
