MX23RW : Monday, December 23 06:21:01| >> :120:26370:26370:
[monks data]
Attendance: 31,152
Southampton logo
Premier League | Gameweek 23
Jan 18, 2020 at 3pm UK
 
Wolves logo

2-3

Bednarek (15'), Long (35')
FT(HT: 2-0)
Neto (53'), Jimenez (65' pen., 76')

Nuno Espirito Santo hails "amazing" Adama Traore after match-winning display

Nuno Espirito Santo hails
© Reuters
Wolves switched Barcelona youth product Adama Traore from the flank to a new central role at half-time at St Mary's on Saturday.

Nuno Espirito Santo has revealed Wolves had not trained with Adama Traore as a second striker before the pacy winger's match-winning turn up front against Southampton.

Wolves switched Barcelona youth product Traore from the flank to a new central role at half-time at St Mary's on Saturday, and the visitors overturned a two-goal deficit for a stunning 3-2 Premier League victory.

Powerhouse winger Traore teed up Pedro Neto before laying on the winner for Raul Jimenez, as Wolves floored the in-form Saints with a second-half salvo to savour.

The turnaround left boss Nuno in high praise of his players for their ability to adjust on the fly, even into an entirely new system, to pull off a fine smash-and-grab Premier League win.

"We just put Adama more in the middle," said Nuno. "When you adjust during the game, inside the stress of the game, and he immediately produces, it's a big step for you.

"We don't have time to be in the training ground so these solutions we have to give, and we did.

"It was amazing. That was very important for us."

Mexico hitman Jimenez took his tally to 19 for all competitions with a coolly-taken brace, converting a penalty before whipping home the winner.

The 28-year-old then fired a warning to Wolves' Premier League rivals that Nuno's side simply refuse to know when they are beaten.

Wolves appeared flat and leaden-footed in a sluggish first-half where Saints dominated, with Jan Bednarek and Shane Long putting the hosts in control at the break.

The Molineux men appeared wholly reinvigorated after the break however, shaking off any worries amid the 39th match of an already hectic season given their Europa League exploits.

"Most of the time this season we have been behind and come back in the second-half," Jimenez told Wolves' official club website.

"We work hard, never give up on a lost ball, and we always go to the same place, with everyone fighting for each other.

"We need to keep going until the last minute and keep trying to score, keep playing our football.

"The opportunities came at the end of the match, and we have a win we deserve."

Saints' Republic of Ireland forward Long claimed his first goal of the season in his 17th appearance of the campaign, breaking a scoring duck dating back to April.

And now Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl hopes that can spur the 32-year-old into regular scoring form.

"It's important for him to score, it was a beautiful goal with a great cross from Cedric," said Hasenhuttl.

"I'm very happy for him that he scored and he has his first goal, and hopefully that can push him forward to get more now.

"Obviously it's greatly disappointing to lose, but we didn't deserve anything in the end because of our performance in the second half.

"It wasn't our afternoon. We had a fantastic turn the last few weeks. But games like this can happen."

ID:386674: cacheID:386674:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4641:
Written by
P A
No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Jurgen Klopp and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer prowl their respective areas during the Premier League game between Manchester United and Liverpool on October 20, 2019
Read Next:
Premier League week 23 predictions including Liverpool vs. Manchester United
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool16123137162139
2Chelsea17105237191835
3Arsenal1796234161833
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest179442319431
5Bournemouth178452721628
6Aston Villa178452626028
7Manchester CityMan City178362925427
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle177552721626
9Fulham176742422225
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton176742726125
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1772839251423
12Brentford177283232023
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd176472122-122
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham175572230-820
15Everton163761421-716
16Crystal Palace173771826-816
17Leicester CityLeicester173592137-1614
18Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1733112740-1312
19Ipswich TownIpswich172691632-1612
20Southampton1713131136-256


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!