Preview: Wolves v Southampton
Wolves are back in Premier League action when they host Southampton at Molineux tomorrow.
Wolves correspondent Tim Spiers previews the clash.
Preamble
The fact that Southampton are 4/1 with some bookies to win this game reflects the impressive start Wolves have made to Premier League life.
Nuno Espirito Santo's side are looking to extend unbeaten records in both the top flight (four matches) and at fortress Molineux, where they haven't lost since January.
They've lost just twice at home in 29 matches since Nuno took charge last summer, with no defeats since January. They feel happy and confident at home (which certainly hasn't been the case in recent years) and they'll be roared on by a full house every week.
If Wolves can reproduce the dominant display they put on against Burnley in their last home game – when they mustered 30 shots - you'd fancy another three points here but Southampton, who impressively won away at Crystal Palace earlier this month and are better on the road than at home, will be no pushovers.
Wolves' main weakness so far – not being clinical enough in front of goal (they only scored once against Burnley despite their dominance) – needs to be addressed and Southampton have Danny Ings to show them how it's done if they let their guard down.
One of the keys behind Wolves' early success has been Nuno having the luxury of naming the same XI for all six league games – only Watford can match that statistic.
They face Southampton in a league game for the first time in more than 10 years knowing that a win would put them seven points clear of the Saints.
It's the start of a more appetising run of fixtures for Wolves, on paper, with Crystal Palace, Watford and Brighton to follow before matches against North London giants Spurs and Arsenal in November.
Nuno's biggest selection headache arguably comes when naming his substitutes. Ivan Cavaleiro returned to action this week after two months out with a back problem, while Leander Dendoncker made an assured home debut in Wolves colours.
Neither player has appeared on the bench in the league this season and Nuno would need to get rid of either Kortney Hause, Romain Saiss, Ruben Vinagre, Morgan Gibbs-White, Adama Traore or Leo Bonatini.
The opposition
Team news
Unless any issues have arisen this week Wolves have a clean bill of health for the first time this season.
Ivan Cavaleiro (back) and Leander Dendoncker (fitness) have yet to feature in the league but both played in the midweek Carabao Cup defeat to Leicester.
Shane Long looks set to miss out for Southampton with a toe injury but Manolo Gabbiadini and Mohamed Elyounoussi, who missed last weekend's 3-0 loss to Liverpool at Anfield, are available.
Ings couldn't play against his parent club but is eligible again.
Likely line ups
Wolves (3-4-3): Patricio; Bennett, Coady (c), Boly; Doherty, Neves, Moutinho, Otto; Costa, Jimenez, Jota. Subs: Ruddy, Dendoncker, Saiss, Vinagre, Gibbs-White, Traore, Cavaleiro.
Southampton (4-1-4-1): McCarthy; Soares, Vestergaard, Hoedt, Bertrand; Romeu; Redmond, Hojbjerg, Lemina, Targett; Ings.
Key players
Wolves – Diogo Jota
Jota has looked more like himself in recent weeks and will be desperate to open his Premier League account. Last season's 18-goal top scorer knows he needs to contribute with goals and assists, particularly with Adama Traore and Ivan Cavaleiro after his shirt.
Southampton – Danny Ings
The 26-year-old striker has enjoyed a prolific start to his loan spell from Liverpool, scoring three times in five matches. Ings, who grew up in Southampton, endured injury problems at Anfield but looks to be getting back to the form that earned him a big-money move to the Reds from Burnley.
The bosses
Nuno Espirito Santo: "Changes doesn’t mean anything for us; we keep the same style, we keep the same ideas and philosophy and game by game, it doesn’t matter what competition (it is)."
Mark Hughes: "We are a work in progress. I think we are still trying to do the right things and for the most part I am pleased with our general play. On occasions a little bit of the luck in sport you need to be successful has gone against us."
Form
Wolves LDWWW
Sep 25: Wolves 0 Leicester City 0 (1-3 on pens) *Carabao Cup
Sep 22: Manchester United 1 ( Fred 17) Wolves 1 (Moutinho 53)
Sep 16: Wolves 1 (Jimenez 61) Burnley 0
Sep 1: West Ham United 0 Wolves 1 (Traore 90)
Aug 28: Sheffield Wednesday 0 Wolves 2 (Bonatini 53, Costa pen 85) *Carabao Cup
Southampton WLLWW
Sep 22: Liverpool 3 (Hoedt OG 10, Matip 21, Salah 45+3) Southampton 0
Sep 17: Southampton 2 (Hojbjerg 35, Ings pen 65) Brighton 2 (Duffy 67, Murray pen 90)
Sep 1: Crystal Palace 0 Southampton 2 (Ings 47, Hojbjerg 90+2)
Aug 28: Brighton 0 Southampton 1 (Austin 88)
Aug 25: Southampton 1 (Bertrand 52) Leicester City 2 (Gray 56, Maguire 90+2)
Past five meetings
Aug 23, 2017 (EFL Cup): Southampton 0 Wolves 2 (Batth 67, Wilson 87)
Apr 10, 2009 (Ch): Wolves 3 (Vokes 1, Craddock 6, Jones pen 19) Southampton 0
Nov 15, 2008 (Ch): Southampton 1 (Pearce 21) Wolves 2 (Iwelumo 8, Jones 17)
Mar 4, 2008 (Ch): Wolves 2 (Ebanks-Blake (61, 88) Southampton 2 (Vignal pen 75, Euell 90)
Nov 6, 2007 (Ch): Southampton 0 Wolves 0
Referee
Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire)
A referee well known to Wolves fans. His most recent Wolves match was The Battle of Boro in March, when Attwell sent off Ruben Neves and Matt Doherty and failed to penalise Boro for a trip on Helder Costa when he was through on goal.
From way back in 2011 he's also remembered for sending off Nenad Milijas at Arsenal when Wolves fought to a 1-1 draw at the Emirates. A season earlier he booked 12 players (seven for Wolves, five for Newcastle) during a 1-1 draw at Molineux.
Match odds
Wolves 3/4, draw 5/2, Southampton 4/1
