Wolves again failed to show any attacking bite (as the cliché goes) and lost this match pretty convincingly, by the same score-line as last years cup tie. Southampton didn't need the help of the referee, but they got it anyway and Uriah's Renie's mad-cap star turn provoked the only thing to smile about all afternoon - this classic quote from Dave Jones "I have to be careful about what I say but he was useless out there." Yes Dave, about as careful as Wolves defence in our first two games there.

Wolves started with seven of the same starting line-up as last year - with the return of Kennedy a badly kept secret. There was only one of the summer signings in the starting eleven (Craddock), and the absence of both Camara and Kachloul was as mysterious and disappointing as the lack of cash splashed out over the summer.

Despite the squad looking a little thin, we actually played well enough in the first half. The 4-5-1 formation has plugged the gaps, but unfortunately it has left us looking like we have no attacking intentions. Admittedly Blake had a couple of weak shots early on and we had a couple of corners within the first ten minutes or so, but we always looked like we would lose if we conceded.

However Southampton never really looked like scoring until Craddock had to clear of the line from a shot by Beattie after Oakes had palmed out a Phillips shot.

But then did get a goal from a combination of Phillips, Beattie and the ref. Phillip's nicked the ball past Irwin on the edge of the Wolves area and he clipped Irwin's foot (outside the area)as he ran into the box. After taking three of four steps Phillips realised he wasn't going anywhere so he decided to dive and see what he could get away with.

Uriah Renie thought that Irwin had brought down Phillips in the area. He was the only one in the stadium who was fooled by Phillip's swan dive, but unfortunately he was the only one whose opinion mattered. Up stepped Beattie to put a way the penalty into the corner of the net. Southampton 1 Wolves 0.

Unlike in some previous Premiership games, Wolves didn't collapse straight after conceding and carried on in a work-man-like fashion. In fact we fashioned a good chance just before half-time when Kennedy burst through on the left wing and sent in a cross which was met well by Blake, but his header went just over and landed on top of the net.

Half time Southampton 1 Wolves 0

Unfortunately for us Southampton stepped up a gear in the second half and we were just not able to keep up. The game was over five minutes after the re-start when Beattie got his second.

He ran on to Phillips' through-ball, cut in from the right and smashed the ball past Oakes and into the far top corner. A very decent goal and one that effectively finished the contest (although I have to admit Oakes did a Macedonian keeper and appeared to avoid rather than try to save the ball). Southampton 2 Wolves 0.

Despite the fact that we were staring another defeat squarely in the face unless something drastic changed, Wolves didn't make a change until another 15 minutes had passed. Gudjonsson replaced Cameron, and although he looked sharper than most of those around him in Gold and Black, he couldn't change the course of the game by himself.

Still it took another 15 minutes before Silas came on, but we were still playing a 4-5-1 formation and chasing our tails. We finally went to a 4-4-2 formation when Iversen came on for Rae, but it was much too little much too late.

This is a game which we probably shouldn't have realistically expected anything from, but the lack of goals and the fact that this is the same squad and score-line as last year gives cause for concern. The frustration boiled over and some idiot Wolves 'fans' started fighting each other. The last time I saw that was after the Man City match at Molineux in the 2000-2001 season and we all know what happened after that game.

Full time Southampton 2 Wolves 0