Wolverhampton Wanderers (Wolves) have taken a major step towards securing their Premier League status for next season with a crucial 2-1 victory over Southampton at St. Mary’s Stadium. This hard-fought win has lifted them to 17th place in the league table, now sitting nine points clear of the relegation zone. While their overall season has been far from impressive, this victory has provided them with a much-needed cushion as the campaign nears its final stretch.

The match saw Wolves forward Jorgen Strand Larsen rise to the occasion, scoring twice to take his tally to nine goals for the season. Despite Wolves’ struggles throughout the season, Larsen’s contributions have been invaluable in key moments. Although the overall performance was not Wolves’ best, grinding out results like this has become essential in their battle against the drop.

However, many observers, including football pundit Ian Wright, believe Wolves’ relatively comfortable position in the table owes more to the weakness of the teams below them rather than their own strong performances. Speaking on The Kelly & Wrighty Show, Wright emphasized that Wolves have been lucky to have such poor competition in the relegation fight this season. He stated:

“I just thought again, you look at the three (bottom) teams, and why Wolves have been very fortunate this season, because they’ve been poor in what they should be doing. They’re not good enough. But then you look from Wolves to 16th, Wolves have been nowhere near good enough.”

Wright highlighted that despite Wolves’ underwhelming displays, they have benefited from the struggles of Southampton, Leicester City, and Ipswich Town—three teams that have failed to mount a serious challenge for survival.

Southampton’s Struggles

Southampton’s situation is particularly dire. Their manager, Ivan Juric, did not hold back in his post-match assessment, offering a brutally honest take on his side’s survival chances. When asked whether his team could still avoid relegation, Juric reportedly responded, “Absolutely not.” His frank admission suggests that morale within the Southampton camp is at an all-time low.

This comes as no surprise given their dreadful run of form. Southampton have picked up just eight points in 2025, the lowest tally in the division. Their failure to turn things around has left them firmly in the drop zone, with time rapidly running out.

Leicester and Ipswich Also Floundering

Leicester City and Ipswich Town are also struggling to keep pace in the relegation battle. Leicester’s issues have stemmed from a leaky defense and a lack of consistent goal-scoring, leaving them unable to pick up enough points. Meanwhile, Ipswich suffered a damaging 4-2 defeat to Nottingham Forest, further deepening their woes. This result effectively left them ten points adrift of safety, making their survival hopes increasingly bleak.

A recent analysis by Match of the Day X revealed that, after 29 games, the combined points total of the bottom three teams is the lowest in Premier League history. Between them, Southampton, Leicester, and Ipswich have accumulated just 43 points this season—a figure that highlights just how poor they have been.

Wolves’ Fortunate Position

While Wolves have done just enough to stay ahead of the relegation battle, their survival is more a reflection of their competitors’ weaknesses than their own strength. Ian Wright pointed out that Wolves’ overall performance levels this season have been subpar, but a few key players have stepped up at the right time.

One such player is Matheus Cunha, who has been a rare bright spark for Wolves. Wright also mentioned the improvement of Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, who has thrived since moving into his preferred central midfield role.

“Some players have found form. We know what Cunha’s about. I think Bellegarde, who I think was playing on the right wing when Gary O’Neil was there, is now in the centre which is his natural position, looks like another player that can really contribute to what they’re doing. Strand Larsen the same.”

These individual performances have helped Wolves remain competitive, but Wright believes they still have much work to do if they want to avoid another relegation battle next season.

Looking Ahead

While Wolves are not mathematically safe yet, their position is far more secure than it was earlier in the season. With Southampton, Leicester, and Ipswich struggling, Wolves now have a significant advantage in the race for survival.

However, the club cannot afford to be complacent. If they do stay up, major improvements will be needed in the summer to ensure they do not find themselves in a similar situation next season. Wright believes new manager Vitor Pereira has the potential to raise the standards at Molineux, but it will require smart recruitment and tactical adjustments.

For now, though, Wolves fans can breathe a little easier. While their season has been disappointing, the failures of their relegation rivals have put them in a strong position to retain their Premier League status. If they can continue picking up points in their remaining fixtures, they should be able to secure survival well before the final day.