Matches like this don`t come along very often. The last time Wolves conceded six at home was back in October 1976 and strangely the team to do it was Southampton! Wolves went on to become league champions that campaign while Southampton went on to lift the FA Cup.
The timing of this thumping victory could not have been better for George Burley’s team, for this was Saints final chance, defeat or even a draw was almost unthinkable, it was a distinct and realistic possibility that Saints could find themselves 9 points from the play offs come Sunday morning.
The joy was mostly Marek Saganowski’s, a fantastic hat-trick of the highest quality was of course the main reason for the one sided score line.
For 20 minutes, Wolves had looked good, but from the moment Andrew Surman picked out Saganowski for a header at the far post the game hurtled away from them as unstoppably as Luciano Pavarotti rolling down a hill!
The next blow was self-inflicted, Gary Breen stabbing the ball into his own net after Wolves keeper Matt Murray had deflected the ball onto the legs of his defender.. Wolves, though, might still have been level before long, Andy Keogh forcing a fantastic save from Bartosz Bialkowski and then hitting a post.
Then came the killer blow, When Saganowski chased the ball towards the deadball line, it looked a rare opportunity to relieve some of the wolves pressure; instead, he pivoted and chipped the ball over the head of the wolves keeper for the goal of the game and possibly a contender for goal of the season.
Saganowski, on loan from Troyes, has now scored seven goals in as many games. Southampton were well on top now. Michael Kightly earned a penalty, but never looked like beating Bialkowski with a feeble side-foot which the pole saved well.
Three at half-time became four when substitute Nathan Dyer set up Leon Best to score at the second attempt.
Wolves fans responded by chanting McCarthy’s name, a gesture he described as humbling.
Further goals, from Surman and Saganowski, tested even this loyalty, however.
‘We had eight first-team regulars out,’ said Burley, ”but we took 90 per cent of our opportunities.’
So, McCarthy was asked, was this a one off? ”I ****ing hope so!’
Match details
Wolverhampton (4-4-2): Murray; Edwards (Bothroyd 59), Collins, Breen, Clapham (Craddock 59); Kightly, Olofinjana, Potter, McIndoe; Ward (C Davies 65), Keogh.
Subs: Gleeson, Budtz (g).
Booked: Potter.
Southampton (4-4-2): Bialkowski; Ostlund, Powell, Pele, Makin; Surman, Guthrie, Wright, Skacel (Dyer 54-Wright-Phillips 75); Best (Licka 82), Saganowski.
Subs: Miller (g), Cranie.
Goals: Saganowski (24, 36, 83), Breen og (27), Best (55), Surman (79).
Referee: G Salisbury (Lancashire).
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