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Saints At Wolverhampton Wanderers The Verdict

A tough game for Saints and a test of character, yes we had to rely on some stout defending and goalkeeping, but that is what they are paid to do, this was a good point, a year ago we would have lost this game.

There was disappointment for Saints in that they gave away a goal from a winning position and missed the chance to really make our mark and go third, but the real plus point from this game is that we went into it without our top goal scorer and came though it without being defeated, as I mentioned above a year ago we would have been carved apart.

This was always going to be a difficult game, Wolves are exactly the type of side who can rip us apart on the break as they did at St Mary's earlier this year, all the TV talk was about Wolves having to change their formation due to the absence of Conor Coady, but truth was we were the team who were having to change the way we played to ensure that we didn't let Wolves play their usual game.

Although we still attacked quickly on the break, our pressing game was a little more subdued, we knew that this was what the home side wanted, the chance to catch us on the break as they did with such devastating results when they came back from 2-0 down to win 3-2 last season at St Mary's

We knew that Traore was the danger man that he was fast and physical and we matched the home side for battle.

In truth although we battled hard as a team, I thought that this was far from our best performance, early on we looked lethargic, nothing seemed to be going right for us. we battled hard for the ball but gave it away too easily at times through slack play.

The second half started well, we won the ball and went at the Wolves defence, it looked like the home defence had nullified the danger and were seeing the ball out for a corner, but Che Adams didn't give the ball up and crossed it for Theo Walcott to fire home.

It could have been two shortly after when Adams again put a slide rule ball for Wallcott to leave him one on one with the keeper, but the striker didn't seem to be able to set himself up properly and fired wide when he should really have scored.

The price was paid with 15 minutes left when we gave the ball away in midfield and Wolves poured forward Raul hit the post but Neto was there to put it away.

Could Saints hold out with the home side now pouring forward, yes they needed Alex McCarthy to make a few good saves and some good blocks, but it was nothing that a Premier League side with aspirations of a top 7 finish should not be able to do.

So a big test passed and passed well, we end the weekend in 5th place only 3 points behind leader Tottenham Hotspur, a side whom all the pundits are now salivating over due to their 2-0 win over Manchester City, where the result did not reflect the chances each side had.

It keeps us in touch with the top 3, it left Wolves a side who will be a main rival for a top 7 finish still 3 points behind rather than level, it left us unbeaten in the last 7 Premier League games, but more importantly it showed that even without Danny Ings we can get results against good sides and we have a team spirit second to none.

Man of the match is hard, in goal Alex McCarthy had one of his best performances for the club, Vestergaard & Bednarek have a central defensive partnership that is getting better and better, James Ward Prowse was immense in the way he battled in midfield when he had to and used the ball well. Kyle Walker Peters barely lost the ball except once in the second half, it was truly a team display.

It was certainly the most satisfying performance of the 7 game unbeaten run in that we knew we had a game on our hands, we took a big step forward tonight.

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