Pablo Sarabia rounded Aaron Ramsdale and slotted into an empty net to put the hosts 1-0 up after just two minutes. The Saints thought they had levelled through Ryan Manning but a VAR check saw the goal ruled out for a foul on Nelson Semedo by Mateus Fernandes. Matheus Cunha scored a second for the hosts to seal victory and move Wolves into 18th and push the Saints to the bottom of the table. Although the away side were not pleased with that goal due to a possible foul on Cameron Archer in the build up was ignored.
The visitors had 71 per cent of the ball but did not have a single shot on target. Martin did not exude confidence when it came to discussing his future as he said he would “hopefully” be addressing the media again after the international break.
He said: “We should do more with the ball, so to come here and have as much of the ball as we did especially in the final third is not easy. If you said before the game we’d limit them to eight shots and be in and around their final third as much as we were, I’d expect to have something to show for it. Its not enough, I guarantee I’ll get asked about the style of play. The team builds up to the final third in this structure so they can do their stuff. We get in their box a lot in the first half but need to do more for sure. It’ll be what it’ll be, we’ll work as hard as we can – the rest of it is out of my control so I don’t sweat. Hopefully I’ll be speaking to you in two weeks.”
Reflecting on the VAR calls Martin added: “It’s not the reason we lose, but we’re on the receiving end of two really tough decisions that changed the game. I think their defender manages it really well. I don’t think he plays the ball, he tries to get his leg across Mateus. If he tries to play the ball and then Mateus affects him, then I think it’s a foul. The fact that he hasn’t tried to play the ball, I think it’s just normal contact – actually I’d probably ask for a penalty in that instance, because he puts his leg across Mateus and the ball’s the other side of him. I think it’s an interesting decision.”
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