WOLVES scored two late goals to snatch what was an initially deserved result from Saints, in a 2-1 defeat to the relegation rivals at St Mary’s.

Charly Alcaraz netted his first for the club with Nathan Jones’s side ahead at half-time and looking good for only a second win in eight league matches of his tenure.

Wolves had been reduced to 10 men as Mario Lemina's St Mary's return lasted just 27 minutes before he was given marching orders. 

But an unfortunate Jan Bednarek own goal less than 20 minutes from time paved the way for substitute Joao Gomes to thump in the winner with seconds left of regulation time.

The result leaves Saints rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table with further questions likely to be raised over Jones’s role, despite the manner in which the devastating goals actually came.

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The narrative had written itself in the build-up to the match thanks to intriguing comments made by Jones following the 3-0 defeat at Brentford last time out.

The Welshman claimed he had ‘compromised’ in his methods but vowed ‘no more’, as he told media he would ‘live and die by’ his philosophy – so where did that leave this match?

A meeting between 20th Saints and 15th Wolves drew national interest in the media conferences as a result of Jones, but with five points between the two teams it already held local significance.

Lemina returned to his former home with the Wolves pack, while Croatian internationals Mislav Orsic and Duje Caleta-Car could still find no way into Jones’s squad.

There was first starts for deadline day signings Kamladeen Sulemana and Paul Onuachu, as well as a first home appearance for former Luton Town defender James Bree.

All three were mightily impressive during a strong first-half for Saints, which saw Ainsley Maitland-Niles unusually deployed in central defence of a back three.

Kamaldeen was merely urgency on the ball away from an exceptional performance while Onuachu won everything in the air – but it was a first goal for Alcaraz to open the scoring.

The 20-year-old Argentinian looked to wind up a bicycle kick but when that didn’t come off he had two stabs from the edge of the area, with the second going in off the post after 24 minutes.

Lemina, who had been booked for a foul inside the first 10, was seemingly sent off by referee Jarred Gillett for dissent, arguing his case that he had been fouled himself in an earlier passage.

Saints continued to turn the screw but, for all their industry and flair, could not create anything clear-cut for their new look attack until the break.

Jones’s side continued to dominate proceedings despite Julen Lopetegui making three changes by the 57th minute, with Kamaldeen coming close to a first Saints goal.

The 20-year-old punished a sloppy backpass and tried to round Jose Sa, but the Portuguese saved at his feet. Minutes later, the electric Ghanaian attempted a diving header from around 15 yards out.

But as the minutes ticked down, the distance between Onuachu up front and the Saints midfield had become vast. Pressure was invited, despite Jones’s attempts to get his side up the pitch, and Wolves were getting into gear.

The equaliser came as a ball was fizzed into the area and last-ditch firefighting prevented substitute Diego Costa from finishing, but it pinballed off Jan Bednarek attempting to clear and bounced in.

Jones responded with his first two changes; Che Adams and Lyanco were introduced, with that change planned before the levelling goal.

Saints had been playing with a considerable degree of momentum but the performance fell flat in the game’s closing stages, and small pockets of agitation in the ground reflected that.

The dagger blow came in the 87th minute. After a mix-up on a second ball in the midfield, it popped into the path of substitute Gomes who had two tries and thumped past Gavin Bazunu.

Jones headed straight down the tunnel after six minutes of additional time were punctuated by supporters chanting against him again. 

Saints: Bazunu; Bree (Edozie, 79), Maitland-Niles, Bednarek, Salisu, Perraud (Lyanco, 74); Lavia (S Armstrong, 89), Alcaraz (Aribo, 79), Ward-Prowse; Onuachu (Adams, 74), Kamladeen.

Unused subs: Walcott, A Armstrong, Mara, Caballero (g/k).

Booked: Ward-Prowse, Maitland-Niles.

Wolves: Sa; Ait-Nouri (Bueno, h-t), Dawson, Kilman, Semedo (Jonny, 84); Neves, Lemina, Moutinho (Adama, h-t); Sarabia, Nunes (Gomes, 70), Cunha (Costa, 57).

Unused subs: Collins, Neto, Jimenez, Bentley (g/k)

Booked: Lemina, Semedo, Ait-Nouri.  

Sent off: Lemina.

Referee: Jarrad Gillett.

VAR: Paul Tierney.

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