Matheus Cunha’s stunner inspired Wolves to a first Premier League win of the season in their showdown with relegation rivals Southampton.
The forward struck from 25 yards to settle the nerves around Molineux and lift the hosts off the bottom of the table and above the Saints.
He had earlier set up Pablo Sarabia’s opener and victory, which moves Wolves to within a point of safety, eases the pressure on boss Gary O’Neil after only one league win since March.
The spotlight instead shines on Saints head coach Russell Martin after a ninth loss in 11 games, but Southampton will point to the decision to disallow Ryan Manning’s equaliser, and they felt Cameron Archer was fouled in the build-up to Cunha’s strike.
The visitors dominated but failed to capitalise on their territorial advantage, having fallen behind to Sarabia’s second-minute strike.
Cunha seized on Kyle Walker-Peters’ header on the halfway line and darted towards the box. He slipped in Sarabia and the midfielder rounded Aaron Ramsdale to give Wolves a dream start.
The hosts had not kept a clean sheet in the league since February – a run of 22 games – and thought their wait would continue when Manning’s rocket from an angle found the top corner after 11 minutes.
The defender smashed in after Wolves failed to clear Walker-Peters’ cross, but it was disallowed when referee Thomas Bramall, after checking his monitor, ruled that Mateus Fernandes had fouled Nelson Semedo.
It gave the Saints belief and they bossed the rest of the half, Taylor Harwood-Bellis wasting their best chance when he headed a corner wide.
Molineux was restless but the tension disappeared when Cunha blasted in after the break, leaving Southampton fuming in the belief Archer was fouled.
It left them with no way back and Wolves comfortably held on to breathe life into their season and deliver another damaging blow to the Saints.
Morocco
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