Southampton 1-2 Wolves: Vitor Pereira’s side pull further clear out of relegation zone as Jorgen Strand Larsen’s brace secures victory over rock-bottom Saints

So much for an end-of-season relegation battle.

Any lingering hopes that one of the promoted sides might muster some sort of fight to inject even a sliver of jeopardy into the final two months of the season faded yet further as Jorgen Strand Larsen’s double put Wolves another step closer to Premier League survival and pushed Southampton ever closer to the drop.

It was hardly the most impressive of performances from Wolves but how relaxing it must make life knowing you have one of the worst bottom threes in Premier League history below you.

Ipswich’s defeat to Nottingham Forest meant that Vitor Periera’s side are now nine points clear of the drop with a far healthier goal difference than their rivals.

‘We are staying up, we are staying up,’ chanted the Wolves fans at the full-time whistle. By then, most of their Southampton counterparts had long made their way to the exits.

Relegation cannot come soon enough for Saints, who became only the fourth side in English top-flight history to lose nine successive home games in a single season.

Vitor Pereira’s side are currently in 17th place in the Premier League, nine points above the relegation zone

Meanwhile, Southampton are on their way to become the record-worst team in the Premier League history with just nine points in 29 games

At least they showed some spirit as 6ft 7in giant Paul Onuachu came off the bench to pull one back for Saints in the second half but, in the end, it was the same old story.

The result leaves them 17 points adrift of safety. If they lose their next two games and results go against them, their fate could be sealed at Tottenham on April 6.

What made this even more frustrating for Saints was how brightly their side had started. They had plenty of the ball, Yukinari Sugawara caused problems down the right and fizzed in a dangerous ball from which Kamaldeen Sulemana should have done better. Joe Aribo blazed a good opportunity over the bar from just inside the area.

They had as much control as you could expect for a side bottom of the table with nine points.

But then they showed just why they are battling it out with the 2007-08 Derby side for the lowest points total in Premier League history.

They gifted Jean-Ricner Bellegarde the freedom of St Mary’s down the Wolves right, giving him enough time to pick his spot and whip in a cross. Saints defender Armel Bella-Kotchap stood and watched Strand Larsen run in front of him and glance a header across Aaron Ramsdale and into the far corner with Wolves’ first attempt on goal.

‘Get a striker on the pitch,’ chanted the furious Southampton fans towards manager Ivan Juric.

Juric did, at least, take their advice at the break and brought on Onuachu, a move that originally prompted yet more ire from the home fans as he replaced favourite Mateus Fernandes. ‘You don’t know what you’re doing,’ they chanted before singing Fernandes’s name.

Not that the change made any immediate difference as Strand Larsen doubled his tally two minutes into the restart firing a deflected shot into the corner.

Saints, at least, showed some character and tried to get themselves back in the contest and Onuachu, to Juric’s small credit, was at the heart of it.

Sugawara forced a fine save from Jose Sa after a galloping run on the overlap down the right before Onuachu had his back-post header tipped on to the post from the resulting corner and Dibling had just headed over from close range.

With 15 minutes to go, they finally took a chance. Dibling struck the post from outside the box after a mazy driving run and Onuachu reacted quickest to slot home the rebound.

The striker tucked the ball under his arm, pumping up the crowd as he raced back to the centre circle eager to push in vain for an equaliser that never came.