REPORT: Southampton leans on VAR in draw with Wolverhampton

Video Assistant Referee (VAR) rescued Southampton from a potential defeat — instead the spoils were shared in a 1-1 Premier League draw at Wolverhampton on Saturday.

Wolves had two first half goals ruled out through the Charlie Austin implemented VAR system, which has been a fixture throughout the season for Saints.

Jimenez twice thought he broke his goalless drought in league play, but was adjudicated to have handled the ball before his teammate was then deeded offside in the build-up to the goal.

Danny Ings continued to be the striker Ralph Hasenhüttl can depend on, scoring his fifth goal in his last five games. The 27-year-old found the bottom left corner with a right-footed effort on 53 minutes.

Southampton’s lead, however, stretched just eight minutes with Wolves defender Matt Doherty winning a penalty after being taken down in the box. Jimenez ended his drought with a simple finish.

Despite dropping points — a recurring theme for Saints in recent years — the visitors ended a run of three-straight defeats and avoided slipping into the bottom three ahead of their match against Leicester City.

Wolverhampton: Patricio, Boly, Coady, Bennett (Vallejo 18), Jonny, Moutinho, Neves (Doherty 46), Dendoncker, Traore, Cutrone (Diogo Jota 62), Jimenez

Unused subs: Ruddy (GK), Kilman, Vingare, Gibbs-White

Goals: Jimenez (61 PEN)

Bookings: Jimenez (29), Coady (45+1), Vallejo (68)

Southampton: Gunn, Bertrand, Vestergaard, Yoshida, Bednarek, Valery (Boufal 76), Hojbjerg, Romeu (Danso 82), Redmond, Ward-Prowse, Ings

Unused subs: McCarthy (GK), Stephens, Armstrong, Adams, Long

Goals: Ings (53)

Bookings: Valery (10), Bertrand (90+3)