SAINTS left Molineux pointless, absolutely furious and firmly bottom of the Premier League table after they suffered a 2-0 defeat to Wolves.

Russell Martin's side could only look at themselves when Pablo Sarabia ensured they went a goal behind in less than two minutes.

However, they felt they had been robbed on the wrong end of controversial decisions to rule out their equaliser and allow a second for Wolves to stand.

Ryan Manning's goal in the 12th minute was chalked off by VAR and Matheus Cunha doubled the Wolves lead just after the half-time break.

But they did nowhere near enough to make up for the handicap, failing to register a shot on target as Wolves leapfrogged them in the table.

Martin named an unchanged side from their win over Everton as Saints pursued back-to-back Premier League victories for the first time since February 2022.

However, Flynn Downes was ruled out ahead of kick-off, after briefly warming up, as he tried to play but succumbed to a knee injury.

Wolves boss Gary O'Neil came into the relegation clash under pressure. His side had not won in the league since April and were sitting bottom of the division.

The hosts had scored 14 goals in the first 10 matches this campaign - which was double Southampton's total - but conceded an incredible 27.

Former Saint Mario Lemina was the only change in O'Neil's starting team after helping Wolves to come from behind at Crystal Palace last time out.

And Sarabia's opening goal was the quickest Wolves have ever scored in the Premier League, putting Saints behind after just 108 seconds.

Kyle Walker-Peters tried to head clear a long ball but his intervention led to Cunha breaking quickly to slip in the Spaniard, who rounded Aaron Ramsdale.

It rocked Saints but they responded well, seeing a Manning goal controversially ruled out after VAR Chris Kavanagh recommended a referee's trip to the screen.

The Portuguese was adjudged to have fouled Nelson Semedo, who backed into and felled compatriot Fernandes, as he followed up on the shot that rolled to Manning.

Saints toiled for another equaliser but reached half-time without a shot on target, with a handful of dangerous crosses hacked clear by the hosts.

But it was Wolves fans who went into the break enraged as they lambasted Rayan Ait-Nouri and Jorgen Strand Larsen for instances of backwards passing.

Matin opted to take an attacking step and introduced 18 year old Tyler Dibling for the heavily involved Manning during the break.

Cunha put smiles back on Wolves faces with a scorcher from long-range to double the advantage in the 51st minute - but it was another controversial moment.

Martin rightly fumed at fouls on both Fernandes and Cameron Archer directly in the build-up to the goal that went unpunished, despite the earlier incident.

They still had time to get back into the game but with 10 minutes to go they still had not recorded a legitimate shot on target with a succession of corners wasted.

Dibling attempted to keep hold of the ball for Saints under pressure but it was Wolves who went closest, as the ball escaped Jean-Ricner Bellegarde at the back-post.

Wolves: Sa; Semedo, Dawson, Toti, AIt-Nouri (Doherty, 90); Bueno, Lemina, J Gomes; Sarabia (Bellegarde, h-t), Cunha (R Gomes, 90), Strand Larsen (Guedes, 71).

Unused subs: Johnstone, Andre, Doyle, Forbs, Pond.

Booked: Bellegarde.

Saints: Ramsdale; Walker-Peters, Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Stephens (Sugawara, 60), Manning (Dibling, h-t); Aribo (Brereton Diaz, 72), Lallana (Ugochukwu, 60), Fernandes; Armstrong, Archer (Onuachu, 72).

Unused subs: McCarthy, Wood, Bree, Amo-Ameyaw.

Booked: Harwood-Bellis, Ramsdale, Ugochukwu.

Referee: Thomas Bramall.

VAR: Chris Kavanagh.