Wolves Fans' Verdict v Southampton – a deserved win

Adam Virgo

What was your verdict on the match? I have huge faith in Nuno but when I compared the line ups of both sides, I couldn't really see past a Southampton win if I'm honest, especially considering they were finalists in this competition last season.

I was proved massively wrong (like most Wolves fans probably were) and to say Southampton made six changes and we made 11, we looked like the better team, even with 10 academy/U23 players in our squad.

It probably could have been 2-2 by half time had both teams took their chances. We definitely looked the better side for the first 10-15 minutes but after that, Southampton had a few spells on top which was expected. We looked shaky defending set pieces again but we managed to get into half time drawing which I'm sure most Wolves fans would have taken before the game.

Second half I thought we were brilliant and we controlled the play for large spells.

Some say that Willy Boly went into the Southampton dressing room at half time and petrified them because they looked shaken up in the 2nd half and had no answers to our constant wave of attacks.

The introduction of Connor Ronan at half time also had a positive impact on the game. Ben Marshall struggled a little first half but that wasn't surprising considering he hasn't long been back from injury. The fresh legs of Ronan caused Southampton a lot of problems they didn't have in the first half, great decision by Nuno to change it at the break.

Who played well – and who didn't impress? Salt and Vinegar? Ruben Vinagre? Call him what you like but he was a class act last night. You can definitely see that he's got bags of agility and tons of tricks in his locker all added with pure speed too. Not to mention his telepathic link up play with Cavaleiro, those two in the first 15 minutes kept giving the Southampton right back nightmares. A very good backup to Barry Douglas if I say so myself, and to think we were struggling for a proper left back last season, we've now got two who look like fantastic additions.

Jack Price, who's got a lot to live up to considering what we've seen from Neves and Saiss this season, definitely showed that he can play, and this system suits him to a tee. Second half helped him even more when we were on top and he almost had a goal for himself if not for a block by a Saints defender. Once again, another good option to have if we get any injuries/suspensions in midfield.

Sylvain Deslandes, naturally a left back playing at centre back, 20 years old and up against the likes of Tadic, Ward-Prowse, Austin and then Redmond, Long and Gabbiadini eventually, you'd think he'd struggle but it was the complete opposite. He was strong, quick and made some vital blocks and tackles which saved us big time, very assuring performance. He impressed me a lot and I could easily see a future for him at centre half as he undoubtedly has the traits to play there.

Connor Ronan who I've already mentioned slightly, came on at half time and absolutely tore Southampton to pieces in the second half. They couldn't cope with him and Jordan Graham benefited massively by the introduction of the young lad as well. He showed he has the ability to perform on the big stage and not just him but it was great to see loads of academy players in the squad in general.

I don't think anyone had a bad game but if I was going to be critical about anything it would be Edwards' passing in the first half, which was very sloppy. Dicko's finishing and his poor control when he was played through on goal, and a couple of mistakes in the first half from Batth which allowed Southampton two big chances, luckily for him they squandered.

I thought everyone did fantastic second half though and the way we took the game to Southampton was very impressive. Also great to see Donovan Wilson get his first senior goal for the club, what a place and game to get it in as well, hopefully many more to come eventually.

Russ Cockburn

What's your verdict on the match? Well I didn’t expect that. No, not the revealing video of O’Hara’s ex in our Facebook group chat, but the rather stunning 2-0 win by our second string…made even more impressive by the fact Southampton fielded a relatively strong team.

When we saw the team - whilst enjoying a pint overlooking the marina – we all feared the worst. Important lesson, this is Nuno’s ‘squad’ and a bit different to the perennial underachievers we’re used to.

Wolves started off like a steam train with Vinagre and Cav pulling the strings and creating three chances for Dicko. The latter again continues to frustrate. Lots of good work in and around the box, but when it comes to putting the ball in the net he seems to have a mental block or his touch deserts him. It didn’t cost us last night, but it will do soon.

The rest of the first half was fairly even, with Southampton’s quality on the ball beginning to tell and we were indebted to two excellent saves from Norris to keep it 0-0. The young goalkeeper is a great find…calm, composed and commanding. His distribution is also excellent and I can see him challenging Ruddy for the first team slot before long.

Only downside of the evening was Jordan Graham. I’m not overly convinced he’s a wing back and last night proved it, especially first 45 when he got caught ball watching on numerous occasions and then turned inside out by McQueen. He got better second half, but even then didn’t look himself going forward.

Enter Connor Ronan, the diminutive minx. He looks like he’s wandered accidentally into an adult’s game, but last night he delivered a colossal performance that announced his entrance into the first team.

Up until then I’d been disappointed with him pre-season and in the brief cameos he’d been given. There was none of those snatched at passes or trying to do too much last night. He just took the game by the scruff of the neck and drove us forward with neat passing, good runs and excellent ball control. As my wife often says (thankfully)… ‘it’s not the size of the ship, but the motion in the ocean’.

He was ably assisted by the excellent Jack Price, who did a great job of protecting the back three and linking up play going forward. Vinagre on the left looked like he’d necked a lorry load of Carabao before the game as he never stopped running and what a fairytale entrance for Donovan Wilson!

Bristol Rovers at home in the next round. This gives us a very good opportunity to further develop the squad and hopefully make the last 16. Nuno’s passion for establishing an identity and creating a squad that has ‘Wolves’ at its core, whilst laced with a dose of foreign flair, is a pleasing approach and one that has already gained him his own songbook from the travelling fans.

Who played well – and who didn't impress? In addition to the players I’ve already mentioned, I think it is also worth praising club captain Danny Batth.

The start of the season can’t have been easy for him, but he’s remained professional and shared in the away victories like he’d played the entire 94 or 100 minutes himself.

Last night he came back in against a very good team and marshalled the back three expertly, putting his head in the way when needed, making countless interceptions and actually playing out from the back.

His goal, which was in slow motion, was just deserts for a fantastic performance from Brierley Hill’s favourite son. Who would have thought that a bit of Tofu and Falafel could improve your performance after more than eight months under Paul Lambert’s stewardship?

Clive Smith

What's your verdict on the match? Having failed at Newcastle and Boro in the last two season's it was time to try out the southern soft section of the cup draw.

No surprise to see the starting XI change, but there were a few unfamiliar faces on the bench. What looked a strong opposition on paper saw us start really well. Inside the first 10 minutes we had the ball in possession in their box three times. Sadly Dicko and Cav failed to provide us with a goal start. That was as good as it got in the half.

Although the formation was the same our approach and pattern was not quite. We were pressed in possession in our own half and forced to play more long ball. The front three were unable to retain possession well enough.

Down the left with Vinagre looking fantastic on the ball going forward things looked good. On the right though things looked dreadful. Graham at wing back and Marshall ahead of him just did not work. Graham was passed by like he was not there. Maybe if Marshall and him had swapped?

Crosses from that side looked likely to produce a goal. The 15 minutes before the break saw us battered. Crosses and corners found a Southampton head time and time again. Had we conceded three in that spell it would have been no surprise. There was an excellent save by Norris in the middle of the onslaught from a header that looked certain to go in.

Often their corners were taken short, a common theme this season. We got undone at Hull with one. We have to improve our defending on these set pieces.

While we are on the subject of corners – generally this season ours have been rubbish. Usually hitting the first man or flying off for a throw in. Hey Nuno - next chapter needs to be 'corners', for and against please.

The BBC correspondent describes the first half as 'devoid of incident' – he must have been in the bar. Was he/she not watching? Thankfully the Marshall / Graham combo did not survive longer than a half. Ronan replaced Marshall. He must have had a similar dose of salts that Vinagre had when he started the first half. From being our weakest link suddenly our right side looked the most dangerous.

Graham had the ball across the halfway line and looked like he was enjoying himself at last. His crosses did offer more promise than quality but our first-team passing patterns and triangles looked more in evidence.

Having said our corners have been rubbish, tonight it was understandable - Cav, Dicko, Ronan, Vinagre – they are hardly likely to power in a header are they. That just leaves the Edwards flick or the Batth/Bennett nod. One such corner saw Batth and Bennett almost marking each other beyond the far post only for them to separate as Cav provided a cross for Danny to nod in. Suddenly the cup that nobody cares about found a group of players and set of fans who did care.

Then it was all about game management! Who invented that term, and who in their right mind uses it? Anyway we expected to have to dig in (a proper phrase there). They brought their big guns on - Redmond, Gabbiadini and Long. Our response – Zyro.

First impact – a yellow for Zyro – we meant business. We held firm for 10 minutes, then brought on our final substitute. Donovan Wilson found some space after a run by Zyro and as players converged his touch put the ball in the net.

Cue ecstatic scenes in the away and a mass of home fans streaming for the exit. Always a pleasant sight.

Who played well – and who didn't impress? Norris – ade an excellent save from a header and tipped a cross-shot onto the bar. His kicking from both feet looked solid too.

The Batth/Bennett/Deslandes trio arguably looked to have a tougher opposition than Cardiff presented our first team at the weekend. All three did well. Deslandes looks like a slightly more inexperienced version of Hause. Comfortable on the ball, but knows when putting a foot through the ball is sometimes the best option. All three put challenges in for headers but did not win the majority.

Bennett was drawn towards the Graham flank too much in the first half – because he had to. Good header from Batth for the goal. Something we expect Boly to be doing just as regular.

Graham and Vinagre at wing back were quite a contrast. Vinagre really did well, specially in the first half. Up and down effectively. His weakness is in the air where one clearance just set them up for a shot that just went wide. Graham looked for 45 minutes that he would rather be any place else. He just watched as he had players get behind him. He offers us very little in our own half.

After the break though he was more productive in their half. Too many crosses did not get past the first man, but there was always the promise. One diagonal ball played him in but he lacked confidence to run at the box when he should have.

Price played well. Plenty of his trademark short sharp passes and a greater percentage forward which is good to see.

Edwards did not show as much energy or cover the ground as much as usual. He held his central position alongside Price while closing down when we did not have the ball.

Marshall never got into the game. He failed to help Graham and did not get on the ball going forward. The one time he came inside, he lost the ball in midfield and got booked for his trouble.

Cav – a bit of a loose cannon. Never quite sure what will happen next. He might nutmeg his man or beat himself and end up on the floor with the chance wasted. Not convinced he is better than Enobakhare on current form.

Dicko disappointed again. His upper body strength was not there and he was frequently shrugged off the ball easily. There is no killer instinct around goal either.

Ronan played the second half. Ran non-stop for the first 15 minutes and involved in everything positive during that spell. Got his second wind a while later and had a good influence.

Zyro and Wilson provided fresh legs when Southampton pushed for an equaliser and they helped close the game out.

Man of the match – a difficult choice because several players had good spells throughout the game. Over the 90 minutes Price and the three centre halves were the pick, with Batth just edging it.