Julen Lopetegui: 'Wolverhampton Wanderers played like heroes to beat Southampton'

On the back of last weekend's 3-0 win over Liverpool, Wolves were considered the favourites to overcome an out-of-sorts Saints side with Nathan Jones under pressure to keep his job.

For an hour, though, everything went the home side's way, an opening goal from Carlos Alcaraz being followed by the sending off of Mario Lemina for two yellow cards, the second for allegedly approaching the referee in an aggressive manner.

However, Wolves rallied in the second half, helped by the introduction of Diego Costa, and Adama Traore helped bundled in an equaliser via the legs of Jan Bednarek.

Lopetegui took the opportunity to hand a debut to Joao Gomes from the substitutes' bench and the former Flamengo midfielder wasted little time in justifying the excitement surrounding his arrival, slotting a wonderfully-executed shot past Gavin Bazunu from 16 yards in the 87th minute.

The strike sparked pandemonium in the away end, and Wolves battled hard to retain that lead to post a fourth successive win at St Mary's and defeat the same opponent in five successive top-flight fixtures for the first time in their history.

As a result, Wolves now sit five points clear of the relegation zone, and Lopetegui insisted that their performance on the South coast was 'hero-like'.

Speaking to Match of the Day, the Spaniard said: "I think it was a very hard match against a good team. They scored before us and we suffered a very unfair sending off for Mario Lemina.

"In the end we suffered, it was very difficult but we worked in a very good way, we tried to draw and then to win and it was a very good win for us. The players showed they have a big heart. They want, they run, they suffer.

"I know about their character. They have shown me in this match. Today was very difficult but I clap them today. They show today [they played] like a hero. It is a good reflection from them because they are able to do better when they work very hard."

Wolves face another potentially-pivotal fixture with a relegation rival on February 18 as they play host to Bournemouth at Molineux.