SAINTS were left to rue giving away two cheap set-pieces as their run of good form slumped to a halt against Wolves, eventually falling to a 3-1 defeat at Molineux.

A Raul Jimenez penalty and Conor Coady header gave Wolves a comfortable lead, before a stunning Ward-Prowse free-kick set up a grandstand finish - which ended with Adama Traore sealing the game with Wolves' third on the break.

With Saints’ comfortable win over Brentford in mind, Hasenhuttl decided to keep a winning side together, despite the return of Kyle Walker-Peters and Yan Valery from suspension.

Instead the full-backs were both been named on the bench, with youngsters Dynel Simeu and Kags Chauke omitted from the substitutes.

Despite having extra rest due to the virtue of no midweek fixtures, Wolves boss Bruno Lage brought talismanic striker Raul Jimenez back into the starting XI, making a total of five changes to the side that knocked Sheffield United out of the FA Cup.

Portuguese Toti Gomes was handed a Premier League debut at left-back, whilst fellow countrymen Joao Moutinho, Jose Sa and Francisco Trincao were also given berths in the line-up.

Saints kept the hosts hemmed in their own box early on, with a bombardment of corners leading to no proper chances.

The hosts quickly pushed their guests back into the own half, but other than a few probing crosses into the area, neither side threatened much.

Wolves eventually grew to take a hold of the game, and with around 10 minute first-half minutes left, the biggest flashpoint of the game occurred.

Another Wolverhampton attack led to panic in the area for Saints, with the side chucking bodies in the way of the ball at every opportunity.

Jan Bednarek looked to have reached the ball and removed the danger, only to collide with Ait-Nouri without contacting the ball.

After a lengthy VAR review that included referee Michael Salisbury heading over to the monitor, a penalty was awarded and duly dispatched by Raul Jimenez, with a stuttering run up sending Fraser Forster the wrong way.

Saints responded strongly, producing a fine reaction save from Jose Sa. An Oriol Romeu cross into the box met the head of Mohammed Salisu, with his shot requiring saving intervention from Sa.

However that was it as far as notable action in the first half, with Hasenhuttl using the break to prepare for a change in formation.

The introduction of Che Adams at the expense of Ibrahima Diallo saw Saints switch to their more regular shape of 4-2-2-2, but a return to familiarity did not pay dividends for Hasenhuttl’s men.

Another set-piece proved to be the flaw for Saints, with Forster caught in no man’s land as a floated free-kick was nodded on to the post by Max Kilman.

When the ball bounced away, it appeared Forster’s blushes were spared – only for Wolves captain Conor Coady to charge in and bundle over a second.

Wolves’ second left their opponents from Hampshire deflated, with the game petering out with little fanfare – until Saints pulled one back to set up a grandstand finish.

With six minutes to go James Ward-Prowse gave Saints hope, fantastically swerving a free-kick from 30-yards past Sa and into the back of the net.

Suddenly a dull game opened up for both teams, with the game quickly devolving into an end-to-end contest. Saints must have thought they snatched a point when Romain Perraud sent a header on to the station, but it would be the hosts who grabbed the game’s final goal.

With Lyanco down injured, Wolves continued their counter, with Traore making full worth of the man advantage.

He kept his cool to slot the ball past Forster and condemn Saints to a first defeat in six games.

READ MORE:

Ralph Hasenhuttl: If Wolves get a penalty, so should Saints

Hasenhuttl: 'World-class' Ward-Prowse strike the 'highlight of the evening'

Saints: Forster, Tella (S Armstrong, 71), Lyanco, Salisu, Bednarek, Perraud, Romeu, Ward-Prowse, Diallo (Adams, h-t), Broja (A Armstrong, 78), Redmond

Unused subs: Caballero (g/k), Walker-Peters, Stephens, Long, Small, Valery

Booked: Lyanco, Salisu

Red card:

Wolves: Sa, Ait-Nouri, Coady, Semedo, Kilman, Gomes, Moutinho, Trincao (Traore, 77), Podence (Cundle, 90+4), Dendoncker, Jimenez (Silva, 80)

Unused subs: Moulden (g/k), Ruddy (g/k), Jordao, Giles, Sanderson, Campbell

Booked: Podence, Jimenez

Red card:

Attendance: 30,057

Referee: Michael Salisbury