Championship draw specialists Southampton notched up another point as they
withstood heavy late pressure from Wolves at Molineux.
The Saints had chances of their own, most notably from strike pair Brett
Ormerod and Theo Walcott, but they were indebted to some solid defending and the
saves of Antti Niemi as they recorded their 12th draw this season.
Wolves only exerted any serious pressure in the final 20 minutes and although
the point means they are now five games unbeaten it was ultimately a
disappointing result in their push for promotion.
The match was preceded by a minute's applause for former Manchester United
star George Best - a boyhood Wolves fan - who died yesterday aged 59.
Wolves, who also drew 0-0 with Sheffield United at Molineux on Tuesday, had an
early scare in just the second minute when Ormerod found himself surging through
on goal.
However the Southampton striker's shot with the outside of his right foot
drifted across goal and was cleared by Lee Naylor.
Gabor Gyepes, in for the injured Jody Craddock, was presented with an
opportunity soon after but he failed to connect cleanly with Darren Anderton's
corner and his shot was comfortably fielded by Niemi.
The visitors had another glorious opportunity in the 20th minute when a loose
ball from George Ndah was seized upon by Ormerod.
Once again the Southampton forward found himself through on goal but Stefan
Postma came out well to save with Walcott screaming for a cut-back from his
strike partner.
Wolves had strong penalty claims turned down in the 35th minute when Colin
Cameron appeared to be brought down by a combination of Niemi and Darren Kenton
after latching onto Ndah's knockdown.
Just before the break Southampton were denied again when Postma unconvincingly
parried away Kamil Kosowski's 25-yard free-kick.
Both sides exchanged chances in a bright opening to the second half and Mark
Kennedy went close with a blistering 25-yard strike that flew just wide of
Niemi's goal.
Walcott was sent racing through in the 59th minute and set himself for a shot
on the left side of the penalty area but Postma, on loan from Aston Villa, came
off his line well to smother the effort.
Another strong appeal for a Wolves penalty was turned away after Kenton looked
to have handled and Ndah's downward header then brought a great save out of
Niemi in the 73rd minute as Wolves turned the screw.
The Southampton keeper was then relieved to see a deflected 20-yard shot from
substitute Seol Ki-Hyeon loop just wide of goal.
Another substitute, Leon Clarke, was desperately unlucky to see his acrobatic
volley from Naylor's corner clip the top of the crossbar as the visitors were
forced further and further back.
Tom Huddlestone was the next man in a gold shirt to be denied by Niemi as his
25-yard piledriver was turned away in the 82nd minute.
Gyepes' header from Naylor's free kick represented the home side's last chance
of a win but it flew straight at Niemi in what was a disappointing conclusion.
Teams:
Wolverhampton Postma, Naylor, Lescott, Gyepes, Edwards,
Kennedy, Cameron (Olofinjana 70), Huddlestone,
Anderton (Seol 61), Ganea (Clarke 70), Ndah.
Subs Not Used: Oakes, Ross.
Booked: Ndah, Kennedy.
Southampton Niemi, Higginbotham, Powell, Kenton, Delap,
Kosowski (McCann 68), Folly, Oakley, Belmadi (Fuller 79),
Ormerod, Walcott (Jones 90).
Subs Not Used: Smith, Hajto.
Booked: Kenton.
Att: 24,628
Ref: P Taylor (Hertfordshire).
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