RALPH Hasenhuttl has identified how Saints have let leads slip and lost at home in both of their last two meetings with Wolves, but insists: “That was far in the past and we should concentrate on the situation we are in now.”

Wolves, under new manager Bruno Lage, have picked up just one win in their opening five – a 2-0 win at Watford – and have tasted defeat in all other Premier League fixtures under the ex-Benfica boss.

But some have considered them unlucky not to have been rewarded with more points since August – while Saints have too registered some good performances but are yet to find a win.

On Sunday’s opponents, Hasenhuttl said: “They have a new manager, a changed squad with a lot of qualities still.

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“The way they want to play football has not changed in the last year I think and they are always a hard to play against team, this is what we need to know.

“We know we need the right skills in the right moments and then we have a good chance of tsking the first win.

“We have had some tough games against them, the last two at home we lost after being two goals up and it was very disappointing for us. But that was far in the past and we should concentrate on the situation we are in at the moment.

Daily Echo: Saints' last home victory over Wolves came on April 13 2019 (Pic: PA)Saints' last home victory over Wolves came on April 13 2019 (Pic: PA)

“We have a new squad with a good mentality at the moment, a lot of young players who are pushing hard to play and give us their qualities on the pitch.”

In the two side's last two St Mary's meetings, Saints have seen 1-0 and 2-0 half-time leads slip to 2-1 and 3-2 defeats. 

Last time out in the Premier League, Wolves fell to a 2-0 loss at the hands of newly promoted Brentford, courtesy of two first half goals from Ivan Toney and Bryan Mbeumo.

But they did mount a midweek comeback from two behind to draw with Tottenham, before the lottery of penalty defeat.

Hasenhuttl added: “I think especially against the ball they are well-organised. I haven't seen them so often so high pressing to be honest.

Daily Echo: The Midlands outfit were back to losing in the Premier League last weekend (Pic: PA)The Midlands outfit were back to losing in the Premier League last weekend (Pic: PA)

“But you need also the players to do this and when you feel that there are some other qualities and you want to have the ball a little bit deeper then you do this.

“I think he's an experienced coach, he knows what he has to do. The Premier League is always tough for everybody - especially for the new coaches when they're coming in. 

“A lot of different football cultures are meeting each other here and that means you have to be flexible as a manager and I'm sure he will find this first season very, very interesting for him to watch every different team. 

“Everything is new for him. And it's tactical, very interesting, the first season in the Premier League.”