Southampton 2 Wolverhampton W 0: Saints revived as Wright-Phillips finds goal touch
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Your support makes all the difference.Southampton secured only their second win in seven games when Bradley Wright-Phillips and Kenwyne Jones scored sublime goals in front of the lowest ever League gate at St Mary's last night.
Most sets of fans impeccably observed a minute's silence before kick-off for what was billed "All Saints Day'' dedicated to those ex-players, staff members and supporters who had died in the previous 12 months.
The home fans did their very best to liven up their heroes as well - especially on the back of a run of five defeats in six games, including a Carling Cup exit at Notts County. Yet the omens looked ominous for anyone at St Mary's expecting a goal feast from two teams who had certainly lost their way in front of the net in recent weeks.
But Southampton's long-suffering supporters at last had a goal to celebrate from one of their leading strikers when, six minutes before the break, Wright-Phillips jinked his way past Gary Breen, the Wolves captain, before side-footing the ball home from 16 yards.
It was the former Manchester City striker's first goal since he hit two against Millwall in the Carling Cup on 19 September and the first goal to be scored by one of the club's main strikers for nearly 27 hours.
In a desperate effort to put some spark into his side Mick McCarthy, the Wanderers manager, made a double substitution just before the hour when Lewis Gobern replaced Darren Potter and Jemal Johnson came on for Leon Clarke.
But any hopes by the West Midlands side that they might end their dismal run evaporated 20 minutes from time when Jones scored a second for Southampton with a fine effort. The striker outmuscled defender David Wheater before unleashing a terrific angled drive beyond Murray into the far corner of the net.
The Southampton manager, George Burley, said: "My players were really committed tonight and Wolves didn't have a shot on target." McCarthy admitted: "This performance wasn't a good one and after the game there were a few choice words said about mistakes and deficiencies."
Southampton (4-4-2): Davis; Makin, Lundekvan, Baird, Bale; Dyer (Licka, 72), Idiakez, Wright, Skacel (Surman, 82); Wright-Phillips, Jones. Substitutes not used: Miller (gk), Pela, Lallana.
Wolverhampton Wanderers (4-4-2): Murray; Edwards (Little, 82), Breen, Wheater, Clapham; Potter (Gobern, 57), Olofinjana, Henry, Ricketts; Clarke (Johnson, 57), Cort. Substitutes not used: Ikeme (gk), Davies.
Referee: M Thorpe (Suffolk).
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