MX23RW : Thursday, October 4 10:09:19

Nuno Espirito Santo admits Wolves were lucky against Southampton

Wolves have lost just once in their opening seven Premier League games.

Boss Nuno Espirito Santo admitted Wolves rode their luck after victory over Southampton.

Late goals from Ivan Cavaleiro and Jonny Otto earned a hard-fought 2-0 win over the Saints at Molineux.

Cavaleiro was on the pitch for just 94 seconds before he scored with his first touch with 11 minutes left and Jonny added a second three minutes from time.

It was harsh on Southampton, who competed well in an even game, and Nuno conceded Wolves – who are now eighth having lost just once – may have been fortunate.

He said: “In the end, if we deserve it or not, you never know. If you ask if we deserve it or not, I would say yes. Probably Mark Hughes would say no, but this is the game, this is sport, this is football.

“What we know is we are ready and able to adapt to any scenario we come across in the game.

“Even when you are not having the ball you have to stay consistent, organised and that’s what keeps you in the game.

“You have to score and after the first goal we had the game controlled and managed well and we arrived at the second goal.”

The Saints bossed possession in the second half and Rui Patricio denied Stuart Armstrong and gathered Jannick Vestergaard’s free-kick at the second attempt.

Boss Mark Hughes admitted the visitors were frustrated and defender Vestergaard said the Saints’ sob stories cannot continue having won just once this season.

Last month Southampton blew a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 with Brighton while they also lost in the last minute to Leicester in August.

“We need to get better at winning games. We can’t just pat ourselves on the back and say we’re going in the right direction,” Vestergaard told the club’s official site.

“We were on top in the second half, dominating possession in their half, but in the key moments we are not defending well enough – as a team or as individuals.

“We started off a little behind, but we fought back into the game and had some good periods in the first half too.

“I think it was an even game so the first goal was always going to have a very good chance of winning it, especially closing in on the 90 minutes.

“The first goal would’ve been very important for us as well, but we weren’t as effective at both ends.”

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