Match Pack: Wolves vs Saints

By SFC Media time Sun 22 Nov Wolves v Saints

Can Saints extend their unbeaten run to seven as they face Wolves at Molineux on Monday night? Find all the key information ahead of the match in our Match Pack, in association with eToro...

THE MATCH


Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Southampton
Molineux
Premier League
Monday 23 November, 8pm GMT

THE OFFICIALS


Referee: Andre Marriner

Assistants: Simon Long, Richard West

Fourth official: Jonathan Moss

VAR: Paul Tierney

Assistant VAR: Gary Beswick


WHICH KIT WILL SAINTS BE WEARING?


Saints will be wearing their white with red trim third kit for the trip to the Midlands.

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 01: Jannik Vestergaard of Southampton celebrduring opening goal with team mates the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Southampton at Villa Park on November 01, 2020 in Birmingham, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Matt Watson/Southampton FC via Getty Images)
Saints have collected seven points out of 12 in the third kit this season. Photo: Matt Watson

HOW TO WATCH

Supporters will be able to watch the action on Sky Sports Main Event or Sky Sports Premier League with the programme starting at 7:30pm. Fans will require a Sky Sports subscription.

WHAT’S AT STAKE?

Saints reached the summit of the Premier League after the 2-0 win against Newcastle United and extended the unbeaten run to six last time out.

Results elsewhere mean that Ralph Hasenhüttl’s side have slid lower down in the top 10, but victory on Monday could propel Saints back into the top four.

For the hosts, a four-match unbeaten run was brought to a halt as they lost 1-0 to Leicester leaving them on 13 points, three behind Saints.

it’s been a low scoring start to the season for Wolves with just eight goals in as many games, but they’ve been as tight defensively conceding just nine.

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 06: Stuart Armstrong’s goal celebration  during the Premier League match between Southampton and Newcastle United at St Mary's Stadium on November 6, 2020 in Southampton, United Kingdom. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Chris Moorhouse/Southampton FC via Getty Images)
A 2-0 win against Newcastle put Saints top of the Premier League. Photo: Matt Watson

TEAM NEWS

Boss Ralph Hasenhüttl is hopeful of having a near fully fit squad for the trip to Molineux, as both Ryan Bertrand and James Ward-Prowse have returned to training.

Bertrand suffered a knock in the 4-3 win against Aston Villa and subsequently missed the 2-0 win against Newcastle before the international break. Whereas Ward-Prowse had to pull out from the England squad as a precaution, due to a hamstring problem.

Hasenhüttl has his fingers crossed that the rest of his international players will show no ill effects after returning to Staplewood, although striker Danny Ings remains sidelined after minor knee surgery.

For Wolves, Jonny is the only long term absentee, but Captain Conor Coady is a doubt after withdrawing from England duty due to COVID-19 protocol.

Also, Rayan Ait-Nouri withdrew from France’s Under-21 squad at the start of the international break but is expected to be available.

THE MANAGERS

Ralph Hasenhüttl: “We had some good one or two halves against them in the past where we showed what we can do.

"I think they have good game management so we need to be disciplined with or without the ball. They have good counter pressing."

Nuno Espírito Santo: "They are a very good team, good players, good manager. They play with good intensity.

“We want to improve all the aspects of the game, knowing that it’s a big challenge in front of us. We always try to raise our standards. We want to embrace this challenge as a chance to play better.”

ONES TO WATCH

Ché Adams: With Danny Ings still on the sidelines, the focus is on Ché Adams to fill the void up front.

The striker has had a great start to the season by netting three times and assisting twice, with those goals coming in his last four appearances.

Raúl Jiménez: Wolves have been defensively solid this season but are yet to score more than twice in a league game this season. Therefore they will need their leading man to ensure he’s on form on Monday.

Since Wolves won promotion to the Premier League in 2018, Jiménez has the second highest total of winning goals (14) than any other player in the top flight.

Wolves:

Goals:

Raul Jimenez 4
Daniel Podence, Pedro Neto, Rayan Ait-Nouri, Romain Saïss 1

Assists:
Daniel Podence, Pedro Neto 2
Maximilian Kilman 1

Southampton:

Goals:

Danny Ings 5
Ché Adams, James Ward-Prowse 3
Jannik Vestergaard 2

Assists:

Danny Ings, Ché Adams, Theo Walcott, Stuart Armstrong 2
Kyle Walker-Peters, James Ward-Prowse 1

HEAD TO HEAD


Played: 67
Saints: 27
Draws: 17
Wolves: 23

 

LAST FIVE MEETINGS


January 2020: Saints 2-3 Wolves (Bednarek, Ings)
October 2019: Wolves 1-1 Saints (Ings)
April 2019: Saints 3-1 Wolves (Redmond x 2, Long)

September 2018: Wolves 2-0 Saints
August 2017: Saints 0-2 Wolves (League Cup)

WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 19: Danny Ings of Southampton celebrates after putting his side 1-0 up during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Southampton FC at Molineux on October 19, 2019 in Wolverhampton, United Kingdom. (Photo by Matt Watson/Southampton FC via Getty Images)
Danny Ings earned a draw for Saints in our last visit to Molineux. Photo: Matt Watson

DID YOU KNOW?


- Saints are looking to win four consecutive Premier League games for the first time since May 2016. Indeed, only Tottenham (7) are on a longer current unbeaten run in the top-flight than Saints (6).

 

- No side has scored more first-half goals in the Premier League this season than Southampton, with Saints’ 10 goals before half-time more than opponents Wolves in total so far this term (8).

 

- Theo Walcott made his senior club debut as a 16-year-old against Wolves back in August 2005. He’s waiting for his first Saints goal since November 2005 (vs Luton), but has assisted two goals in his three Premier League games since returning to the club


KEEP UP TO DATE


We’ve got you covered! We’ll bring you all of the action from Molineux, as well as a host of behind-the-scenes access.

Check out our interactive match centre at southamptonfc.com, with all of the live in-game updates and free audio commentary of the match, and be sure to follow us on social media for further updates and exclusive content:

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