Football

Wolves finally ended their Premier League winless streak on Saturday, defeating fellow strugglers Southampton 2-0 at Molineux. The victory was a much-needed boost for Wolves boss Gary O'Neil, who had been under immense pressure after a dismal run of 13 games without a win.Pablo Sarabia gave Wolves the perfect start, scoring the club's fastest-ever Premier League goal just 55 seconds into the match. Matheus Cunha doubled the lead early in the second half with a stunning strike, securing a vital three points for Wolves. The win lifted Wolves out of the relegation zone, while Southampton dropped to the bottom of the table.Fulham continued their impressive form with a 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. Emile Smith-Rowe opened the scoring for Fulham in first-half stoppage time, capitalizing on an error from Maxence Lacroix. Daichi Kamada's red card for a reckless challenge on Kenny Tete further hampered Palace's hopes of a comeback.Harry Wilson came off the bench to score twice in stoppage time, securing a 2-1 win for Fulham over Brentford on Monday. The Welsh international also played a crucial role in Fulham's victory over Crystal Palace, scoring the winning goal seven minutes from time.Brentford twice came from behind to beat Bournemouth 3-2 at the Brentford Community Stadium. Evanilson and Justin Kluivert gave Bournemouth the lead on two occasions, but Yoane Wissa equalized both times for Brentford. Mikkel Damsgaard also scored for the Bees, while Wissa completed the comeback with his seventh goal in eight league appearances this season.West Ham and Everton played out a disappointing 0-0 draw at the London Stadium. The result did little to appease the discontent among both fanbases, with West Ham fans booing at full-time. However, the point did move Everton four points clear of the relegation zone.

Bournemouth's record signing Evanilson finally broke his goal drought for the club, sparking a three-goal blitz that propelled the Cherries to a 3-1 victory over Southampton on Monday. The Brazilian international's 17th-minute strike ignited a dominant first-half performance from Bournemouth, with Dango Ouattara and Antoine Semenyo adding to the tally before the break.Evanilson's goal was a welcome relief for the 40 million pounds striker, who had endured a difficult start to his Bournemouth career. He had missed a penalty in the Cherries' previous home game against Chelsea, but he made amends with a clinical finish on Monday."It is a goal we've been expecting of Evanilson," said Bournemouth assistant manager Tommy Elphick. "He is so intelligent and makes such cute runs. We haven't been finding him enough so I'm pleased for him."Ouattara doubled Bournemouth's lead just six minutes later, deflecting Lewis Cook's shot past Aaron Ramsdale. Semenyo then put the game beyond Southampton's reach with a fierce drive in the 39th minute.Southampton, who had dominated possession in the first half, pulled a goal back through Taylor Harwood-Bellis early in the second half. However, it was too little, too late for the Saints, who remain in the bottom three of the Premier League."I am so hurt by the first-half performance after the first goal. I didn't recognise our team," said Southampton manager Russell Martin. "There was no aggression or courage. They were looking around and in self-preservation mode on the pitch. I didn't like it one bit. They showed fight in the second half, but it was too late."Bournemouth's victory lifted them above Manchester United into 11th place in the Premier League standings. It was their second win of the campaign, while Southampton remain winless after six games.The gulf between the Championship and the Premier League continues to widen, with all three promoted sides struggling to make an impact in the top tier. Ipswich and Leicester have also failed to register a win in their opening six league matches.

Manchester United's beleaguered manager Erik ten Hag breathed a sigh of relief as his team secured a much-needed 3-0 victory over Southampton at St. Mary's Stadium. The win, United's second of the season, eased the pressure on Ten Hag, who had come under intense scrutiny following back-to-back defeats to Brighton and Liverpool.The match started with Southampton dominating possession and creating several early chances. However, United goalkeeper Andre Onana proved to be a formidable barrier, saving a penalty from Cameron Archer in the 15th minute. This crucial save proved to be a turning point in the game, as United seized the momentum and took control of the match.Just two minutes after Onana's heroics, Matthijs de Ligt opened the scoring for United. The Dutch defender, who had endured a difficult week with the Netherlands national team, rose above the Southampton defense to head home a Bruno Fernandes cross. Marcus Rashford doubled United's lead in the 41st minute with a curling strike from outside the box, ending his six-month goal drought.Southampton's woes deepened in the second half when captain Jack Stephens was sent off for a reckless challenge on Alejandro Garnacho. The Argentine winger then added insult to injury by scoring United's third goal in stoppage time, sealing the victory for the visitors.The win lifted United to eighth in the Premier League standings, while Southampton remained without a point after four games. Ten Hag's team will now face Leicester City at home on Thursday, while Southampton will travel to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday.

Southampton's triumphant return to the Premier League was sealed with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Leeds United in the Championship play-off final at Wembley Stadium. Adam Armstrong's first-half strike proved decisive, sending the Saints back to the top flight after a one-year absence.The victory marks a remarkable turnaround for Southampton, who were relegated from the Premier League last season. The club's immediate return to the elite division is a testament to the transformative work of manager Russell Martin, who has instilled a possession-based style of play that has earned widespread admiration.Southampton's dominance in possession was evident throughout the match, as they controlled the ball for the majority of the game. Leeds, who finished three points ahead of Southampton in the regular season, struggled to create clear-cut chances and were ultimately unable to find an equalizer.Armstrong's goal came in the 24th minute, when he latched onto a pass from Will Smallbone and fired a superb strike into the far corner. The goal was a testament to Armstrong's predatory instincts, as he has now scored 24 goals this season.Leeds pushed hard for an equalizer in the second half, but Southampton's defense held firm. Daniel James' blast cannoned off the bar, and Alex McCarthy made a crucial save in stoppage time to deny Leeds a late equalizer.The victory is a huge financial boost for Southampton, who are estimated to receive a windfall of £140 million due to the increased revenue streams available in the Premier League. However, it is the prestige of competing with the likes of Manchester City and Arsenal that has fueled Southampton's hunger to regain their Premier League status.Southampton's success is a reminder of the importance of a clear philosophy and a belief in a particular style of play. Martin's unwavering commitment to his principles has paid off handsomely, and Southampton can now look forward to another season among the elite.

Leicester City took a giant step towards securing an immediate return to the Premier League with a resounding 5-0 victory over Southampton on Tuesday. Abdul Fatawu's hat-trick, along with goals from Wilfred Ndidi and Jamie Vardy, propelled the Foxes to the brink of promotion.Leicester, who were relegated from the top flight last season, have been in impressive form throughout the Championship campaign. However, a recent dip in results had raised concerns about their ability to maintain their promotion push.But Brendan Rodgers' side responded in emphatic fashion against Southampton, who had been in contention for automatic promotion themselves. Fatawu opened the scoring in the 25th minute, racing onto Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's pass and slotting home.Ndidi doubled Leicester's lead just after the hour mark, heading in from close range. Fatawu then secured the points with a stunning individual effort, cutting inside from the right and unleashing an unstoppable shot across Alex McCarthy.Vardy, who has been in excellent form this season, showed his class with a clinical finish to make it 4-0. Fatawu completed his hat-trick nine minutes from time, assisted by Vardy.The victory moves Leicester four points clear of Leeds United with two games remaining. A win in either of their remaining fixtures against Preston North End or Blackburn Rovers will guarantee their return to the Premier League.For Southampton, the defeat ends their hopes of automatic promotion. They now face a battle to secure a playoff spot and maintain their hopes of reaching the top flight.