WOLVERHAMPTON, England (Reuters) -A Daniel Podence goal on the stroke of half-time gave Wolverhampton Wanderers a 1-0 win over Southampton on Saturday, their first victory of the season.
Matheus Nunes broke down the right and picked Podence out with a low ball to the back post although Saints keeper Gavin Bazunu should have done better to keep out the low drive.
After the break Che Adams had the ball in the net for Southampton but it was ruled out for handball on what was a frustrating day for the forward.
It should have been a simple chance but Adams headed against his arm and he was off-target again when he headed a Stuart Armstrong cross against the bar as Wolves held on for a win that moves them up to 14th on six points.
Wolves boss Bruno Lage said he was still trying to integrate the club’s new players into the side but was relieved to collect the first victory.
“We scored one goal and after that we were very brave in the way we defended. We’re very happy. I told the players it’s one win, we have to build on it. We need to practice. The team that finished pre-season and the team we have now are so different,” he said.
“Players are arriving, we don’t have time to train and have to put them straight into the games. We try our best to have our best strategy and they’re performing well,” added the Portuguese manager.
Southampton fall to 12th place with seven points from their opening six games and manager Ralph Hasenhuettl was frustrated at their failure to convert opportunities.
“We had good chances to take something. That we don’t score today is normally not possible. Che knows it. He’s frustrated because it must be a goal,” he said.
“It’s 20 minutes to go and if we equalise, I would like to see what happens then.”
(Reporting by Simon Evans; Editing by Helen Popper and Hugh Lawson)
