Match ends, Southampton 1, Wolverhampton Wanderers 2.
Manager Ralph Hasenhuttl said video refereeing was "destroying the game" as he reacted to a controversial penalty decision during Southampton's defeat by Wolves.
Danny Ings scored in the 25th minute to give Saints a 1-0 lead, and Hasenhuttl's men comfortably held the advantage until Wolves were awarded a second-half penalty when Ryan Bertrand blocked Nelson Semedo's attempted cross with his arm.
The point of contention was whether the left-back's arm was in an unnatural position. The VAR team, led by official Martin Atkinson, saw no need for the on-field referee to reconsider his initial decision to award the kick.
Ruben Neves scored from the spot before Pedro Neto produced a dazzling winner for the visitors.
"I am normally a big fan, and if the VAR followed the rules everything would be easy," said Hasenhuttl, whose side slumped to their sixth successive Premier League loss.
"I don't know what Mr Atkinson saw today, but they are not doing a good job at the moment. It is that simple. VAR is destroying the game, that's right.
"The referee explained that the arm was stretched away from the body. But when the ball hit the arm it stretched the arm away for me."
The Austrian manager then questioned an incident at the other end of the pitch when a cross struck the arm of Wolves' Leander Dendoncker, which referee Graham Scott and the VAR team this time declared legal.
He added: "I haven't spoken with the VAR because he isn't at the stadium so we can't.
"This is the issue: the games aren't decided in the stadium any more, the games are decided at Stockley Park. This is not so good for the game I don't think."
The match was a tale of two halves, with the visitors improving markedly as an attacking force after the break.
The home side controlled the opening period and took the lead when Ings scored with a brilliant volley after he was picked out by Stuart Armstrong.
The game turned seven minutes into the second half when Neves converted from the spot. Wolves, buoyed by the goal, went on the front foot and took the lead when Neto jinked his way past Jannik Vestergaard before threading his angled strike between Jan Bednarek and keeper Alex McCarthy.
Saints pressed for an equaliser but were thwarted by Wolves stopper Rui Patricio who made a double save from James Ward-Prowse and Che Adams.
Wolves go 12th in the Premier League table, a point and a place above Southampton.
Saints undone by controversial decision
Contentious decisions irk any team, but it prickles that little bit more when you are desperate for a point, never mind a win.
In the split second Bertrand turned his back to avoid getting struck in the face by Semedo's cross, he cannot have imagined that referee Scott would point to the spot.
Hasenhuttl's side never recovered from that as the frailties in defence that have cost them so dearly in the recent past resurfaced. As brilliant as Neto's strike was, could Vestergaard have blocked his run? And should McCarthy have been beaten from such a tight angle?
It is a shame for the Saints because early in the match they displayed the kind of dominance that saw them beat Wolves in the FA Cup on Thursday.
Ings along with Stuart Armstrong and Nathan Redmond looked formidable in attack and his opening strike was typical of him - instinctive and creative. It was his 30th Premier League goal since the start of last season, and only Liverpool's Mohamed Salah (36), Leicester's Jamie Vardy (35) and Tottenham's Harry Kane (31) have managed as many.
The forward's progress has been blighted by injuries in recent years, but if he stays fit Hasenhuttl's side should be able to escape this rut.
Nuno tactical change pays dividends
This result should settle Wolves fans' nerves. That is now seven points in the past three league games, which perhaps proves to the team they can still churn out wins without leading striker Raul Jimenez, who continues his rehabilitation following his head injury.
The visitors sat too deep in the first half but manager Nuno Espirito Santo tweaked the system for the second period, with wide men Semedo and Adama Traore beginning to take more risks.
Neves has arguably been Nuno's most valuable player in attack in the absence of Jimenez, and took his penalty confidently, while 20-year-old Neto once again highlighted why he is one of the brightest prospects in football with his picture-book goal.
'This is a little too much for me to take' - reaction
Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl speaking to Amazon Prime: "I think we shouldn't discuss our run. We know what happened today. It is hard to explain, hard to explain this defeat.
"Until their penalty they had no chances at goal. When you concede that penalty, I just don't understand.
"This is a little too much for me to take, to be honest."
Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo speaking to Amazon Prime: "It was a very tough game. Both halves were very tough. In the first half Southampton managed the game. In the second half we were on the front foot, scored two goals and then defended very well.
"It was a good move before the penalty; afterwards it's the decision of the referee.
"I don't agree that the first half was disappointing. It was a tough game. Southampton are a good team."
Portuguese players' Premier League prowess - stats
- Southampton have lost six consecutive league matches for the first time in their history.
- Since the start of 2018-19, Wolves have won 10 Premier League matches after going behind, the third-most of any side after Liverpool (14) and Manchester United (12).
- Southampton have led in each of their past four Premier League matches against Wolves but have not won any of them (D2 L2).
- Wolves have not opened the scoring in any of their past 14 Premier League games; only Manchester City in 1995 (16 games) have gone on a longer run without scoring first in a match.
- Portuguese players have now scored more Premier League goals for Wolves than players from any other nation (47), outscoring Englishmen by one goal.
- Neto has been directly involved in nine Premier League goals this season (five goals and four assists), the most of any under-21 player in the competition this campaign.
What's next?
Wolves host Leeds on Friday (20:00 GMT) and Southampton host Chelsea on Saturday (12:30 GMT).
Player of the match
Rúben NevesRúben Neves
Southampton
Avg
- Squad number9Player nameIngsAverage rating
6.79
- Squad number17Player nameS ArmstrongAverage rating
6.42
- Squad number8Player nameWard-ProwseAverage rating
6.10
- Squad number19Player nameMinaminoAverage rating
5.68
- Squad number2Player nameWalker-PetersAverage rating
5.51
- Squad number4Player nameVestergaardAverage rating
5.49
- Squad number6Player nameOriol RomeuAverage rating
5.46
- Squad number11Player nameRedmondAverage rating
5.40
- Squad number35Player nameBednarekAverage rating
5.39
- Squad number3Player nameBertrandAverage rating
5.23
- Squad number10Player nameAdamsAverage rating
4.90
- Squad number1Player nameMcCarthyAverage rating
4.75
- Squad number22Player nameSalisuAverage rating
4.71
- Squad number12Player nameDjenepoAverage rating
4.47
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Avg
- Squad number8Player nameRúben NevesAverage rating
7.93
- Squad number11Player nameRui PatrícioAverage rating
7.90
- Squad number7Player namePedro NetoAverage rating
7.79
- Squad number19Player nameJonnyAverage rating
7.13
- Squad number16Player nameCoadyAverage rating
7.06
- Squad number37Player nameTraoréAverage rating
6.97
- Squad number28Player nameJoão MoutinhoAverage rating
6.91
- Squad number27Player nameSaïssAverage rating
6.87
- Squad number5Player nameMarçalAverage rating
6.78
- Squad number32Player nameDendonckerAverage rating
6.73
- Squad number22Player nameNélson SemedoAverage rating
6.70
- Squad number12Player nameWillian JoséAverage rating
6.40
- Squad number49Player nameKilmanAverage rating
6.18
- Squad number17Player nameFábio SilvaAverage rating
5.95
Line-ups
Southampton
Formation 4-4-2
- 1McCarthy
- 2Walker-PetersSubstituted forSalisuat 72'minutes
- 35BednarekBooked at 61mins
- 4Vestergaard
- 3Bertrand
- 17S ArmstrongSubstituted forAdamsat 69'minutes
- 8Ward-Prowse
- 6RomeuBooked at 17mins
- 19MinaminoSubstituted forDjenepoat 62'minutes
- 9Ings
- 11Redmond
Substitutes
- 5Stephens
- 10Adams
- 12Djenepo
- 22Salisu
- 23Tella
- 40N'Lundulu
- 44Forster
- 65Watts
- 72Chauke
Wolves
Formation 3-4-3
- 11Rui Patrício
- 32Dendoncker
- 16Coady
- 27SaïssBooked at 54mins
- 22Nélson Semedo
- 8Neves
- 28João Moutinho
- 19Castro OttoSubstituted forMarçalat 69'minutes
- 37Traoré
- 12Da SilvaSubstituted forFábio Silvaat 89'minutes
- 7NetoBooked at 90minsSubstituted forKilmanat 90+3'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Hoever
- 3Aït-Nouri
- 5Marçal
- 17Fábio Silva
- 18Gibbs-White
- 20Vitinha
- 21Ruddy
- 49Kilman
- 54Otasowie
- Referee:
- Graham Scott
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home51%
- Away49%
- Shots
- Home7
- Away10
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away4
- Corners
- Home4
- Away6
- Fouls
- Home10
- Away9
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Southampton 1, Wolverhampton Wanderers 2.
Substitution
Substitution, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Maximilian Kilman replaces Pedro Neto.
Post update
Offside, Southampton. Jan Bednarek tries a through ball, but Danny Ings is caught offside.
Booking
Pedro Neto (Wolverhampton Wanderers) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Oriol Romeu (Southampton) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Pedro Neto (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
Post update
Oriol Romeu (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by João Moutinho (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
Substitution
Substitution, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Fábio Silva replaces Willian José.
Post update
Oriol Romeu (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Marçal (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
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Attempt missed. Che Adams (Southampton) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Nathan Redmond with a cross.
Post update
Foul by Ryan Bertrand (Southampton).
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Nélson Semedo (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Offside, Southampton. James Ward-Prowse tries a through ball, but Che Adams is caught offside.
Post update
Attempt saved. James Ward-Prowse (Southampton) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Post update
Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Leander Dendoncker.
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Attempt blocked. Adama Traoré (Wolverhampton Wanderers) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Post update
Corner, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Conceded by Oriol Romeu.
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Comments
Join the conversation
How was that a pen? Bertrand's arm was in line with his body when the ball was blasted at him from close distance. How can Scott AND var give that pen? Unfit for purpose!
And if you're going to give that, how was it not a pen for handball to Southampton shortly after?
Ridiculous!
Its incompetent referees and officials who are continuously making the wrong decision even with the aid of technology.
There needs to some degree accountability. Why are we seeing the same officials making mistake after mistake.
If I was Southampton fan, would be absolutely livid and rightly so. VAR/handball laws an absolute joke.
If Manure can thrash Sandwell Town it would be a perfect Sunday.
Yet another post game debate about var & crap refs!
It needs to stop & us fans need to get together & make our voices heard.
By and large we were fantastic in 2020 but now we’ve lost six consecutive games for the first time in our history and one of those was a 9-0 defeat.
Where on earth is the next point coming from?