WOLVES’ Mexican striker Raul Jimenez was finally able to yell ‘Viva VAR’ after he earned his side a point with a 61st minute penalty.
Jimenez had two first half strikes disallowed by the video officials – and also collected a harsh booking after one of the checks on his ‘goals’.
So his heart must have been in his mouth when Peter Barnes again called on VAR to confirm his decision to point to the spot when substitute Matt Doherty was felled in the box by Saints skipper Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.
But this time the call went in Wolves’ favour, and Jimenez finally got his goal, cancelling out Danny Ings’ 53rd minute effort.
That Saints goal came completely against the run of play, but it was no great surprise given the hot streak Ings is currently enjoying.
This was the former Liverpool striker’s fifth goal in his last four games – and the first time in his career he has found the next in four successive matches.
But it was a surprise Wolves had to come from behind to stretch their unbeaten run to six games, given the way they started.
They were clearly still high on confidence after that stunning 2-0 win at Manchester City before the international break, and poured forward right from the kick off.
Joao Moutinho should have done better after seizing on a poor clearance, firing a shot high and wide.
But the Portugese midfielder connected much better with a second attempt and sent it flashing inches over the bar.
Adama Tarore also tried his luck a couple of times as Wolves set the tone for a dominant first half performance, but the home side suffered a blow when central defender Ryan Bennett limped off after just 18 minutes.
He was replaced by Jesus Vallejo, but it was fellow defender Willy Boly who was catching the eye.
It was his superb diagonal ball that set up Moutinho’s first chance, and another pinpoint long pass out of defence sent Jimenez scooting through for the first of his disallowed goals.
Jimenez could not complain too much. The ball clearly flicked onto his arm after he chested down Boly’s pass, before rounding Angus Gunn for what would have otherwise been an impressive finish.
But he was entitled to feel aggrieved at being shown a yellow card by Bankes for deliberate handball.
And the second VAR call was a real sickener.
Jimenez slammed the ball home from a tight angle after Wolvers’ best build-up of the game – and it took several replays to confirm Patrick Cutrone was fractionally offside before his shot on the turn was pushed into Jimenez’s path by the diving Gunn.
Southampton’s only early threat had come from Ings, who had a couple of efforts after collecting a James Ward-Prowse free kick.
Ings seemed shocked at being handed another shooting opportunity a minute into the second half, following a shocking pass across his own box by Vallejo.
The Saints striker’s shot flew at a comfortable height for Rui Patricio, but Ings gave the Wolves keeper no chance when the home team’s dozy defending handed him another chance.
Vallejo was partly at fault again, as his week clearance allowed Saints Hojbjerg to send a bullet header towards the Wolves box.
Coady was first to react, but he completely missed the ball with a wild swing and Ings was able to pounce on the loose ball and smash it past Patricio.
Wolves had sent on Doherty at the start of the second half, in place of the hobbling Ruben Neves. And the Irishman played a big part in the equaliser.
His twisting run in the box was ended by Hojbjerg, who dived in on his opponent after failing to stop him earlier in the move with a tug on his shirt.
This time VAR confirmed Bankes’ decision to award the spot kick. Jimenez coolly ignored Gunn’s dancing antics to bury the ball in the corner of the net.
Patricio had to make a flying save from another Ward-Prowse free kick to safeguard the point, although it would have been an injustice if that 88th minute effort had given Saints the win.
