Wolverhampton Wanderers clinched their inaugural Premier League victory of the season with a commanding 2-0 triumph over Southampton at Molineux yesterday.
Pablo Sarabia and Matheus Cunha found the back of the net, propelling Gary O’Neil’s squad to within striking distance of safety following a lackluster start to the campaign.
This landmark win serves as a solid foundation for the 41-year-old manager as he approaches the third international break, heralding a potential turnaround for the team in the West Midlands. While Cunha shone brightly with a stellar strike that clinched the victory, the overall team performance left room for improvement.
Despite the win, there are crucial decisions awaiting O’Neil following the break, especially concerning a standout player who may need to up his game to secure a spot in the starting lineup. Mario Lemina, who featured prominently in the midfield alongside Joao Gomes, failed to impress with lackluster passing accuracy and defensive lapses, potentially opening the door for others to step up.
On the other hand, striker Jorgen Strand Larsen struggled to make an impact against Southampton, prompting calls for a change in the lineup moving forward. The Wolves’ boss will have important choices to make as the team looks to build on this victory in the coming weeks.
In this campaign, he has scored four goals, trailing only behind Cunha. He has shown promise as a valuable addition, providing the much-needed attacking option the club has lacked. However, in the recent game, he struggled greatly, managing just 15 touches in 73 minutes. He completed only six passes, committed two fouls, and lost 84% of the duels he was involved in. Despite this performance, he received a 6/10 rating from Sky Sports, the joint-lowest among the starting players. Yesterday’s match marked his poorest showing yet—a stark contrast to his usual impact on the field.
