In their first win of the 2024-2025 season Wolverhampton Wanderers thrashed Southampton 2-0 at their home on Sunday.
Pablo Sarabia and Matheus Cunha goals not only raised the team’s morale but also brought a sigh of relief for Gary O’Neil who has under a lot of pressure since the poor start of the season.
The home team Wolvers who had a disappointing performance last season that placed them at the 14th position in the league were 18th on the table with only six points in ten matches.
Sarabia scored the first goal early twenty two minutes in the game after catching the Saints off-guard.
Cunha then doubled the lead shortly after the half time break to seal the victory which they have been unable to register for the first ten games.
However, Wolverhampton is still in the relegation zone, only one point ahead of Crystal Palace who competes with seven points at the 17th position.
“It wasn’t easy; it was never going to be easy. Southampton are a unique test, and they have a lot of different ways of playing with a unique shape,” O’Neil said.
“There’s a lot to be proud of – proud of what the lads managed to achieve because it was a tough game. At home, against a newly promoted side, both teams near the bottom, and we hadn’t won yet.
“The atmosphere was edgy, and it would have been easy to play it safe, but they didn’t. They were full of energy.” O’Neil added.
As fate would have it more miseries for Palace as they were beaten 2-0 by a spirited Fulham who have now risen to the sixth place after the fifth straight league win.
Fulham latest victory came together with a good performance against a Palace team that was weakened by injuries and suspension.
Southampton, however, finds itself in trouble still struggling in the relegation zone with just four points after 11 games.
Their only recent success came in the form of a 0-1 win over Everton but another 0-1 loss to Wolves has seen them looking for answers as they stumble in their second spell in the Premier League.