THEO Walcott’s first Saints goal since January 2006 was enough to stretch to seven games his side’s unbeaten run after a 1-1 draw with Wolves.

The St Mary’s academy product opened his account for the club since his loan return from Everton last month, to put Ralph Hasenhuttl’s men ahead at Molineux.

But Portuguese winger Pedro net came off the bench to land a leveller for the hosts. Meaning Saints sit fifth in the table after nine Premier League games.

Saints made just one change from the starting XI which overcame Newcastle 2-0 at St Mary’s before the international break.

After recovering from a hamstring injury, Ryan Bertrand came back into Ralph Hasenhuttl’s line-up in place of Jack Stephens, who dropped to the bench.

There was no place for Nathan Redmond in the squad for the visitors due to a slight injury problem. Michael Obafemi was recalled to the matchday group.

Defender Conor Coady missed his first game for Wolves since 2017 through injury. Neto dropped to the bench with Joao Moutinho and Adama Traore coming back into the hosts’ team.

But it was Saints who started brightly and could have broken the deadlock within three minutes.

After a neat short-corner routine found Bertrand at the back post – he stood the ball up for Adams, with Wolves’s skipper for the night Ruben Neves clearing over the top.

Wolves were quick to respond as the visitors were thankful for a double save from Alex McCarthy to keep the game goalless.

After Moutinho’s free-kick hit the wall, Nelson Semedo's strike from range was well parried by the visiting goalkeeper, who then got up quickly to deny Leander Dendoncker on the rebound.

Good movement from Walcott then almost got him a first Saints goal since his return on 16 minutes.

Stuart Armstrong’s through ball was perfect for the former England star to latch on to – only for his shot across goal to be gathered by Rui Patricio.

Saints then had a big shout for handball in the Wolves box waved away.

After Jannik Vestergaard’s back-post header from James Ward-Prowse’s free-kick had bounced in the box – the ball appeared to hit the arm of Wolves’s Semedo.

But after referee Andre Marriner said play-on, VAR Paul Tierney also agreed with the man in the middle.

Pacey forward Traore showed his first moment of quality for the hosts on the half-hour mark. He drove infield and saw his fizzing effort deflect off Oriol Romeu – but McCarthy was alert to gather.

Saints continued to move the ball around however, and they came within inches of finding an opener through Armstrong.

After Romeu’s drilled pass found Adams, Armstrong’s run was perfectly timed to slide in and strike an effort, which sailed just wide of Patricio’s far post.

But the visitors only went in at the break level thanks to another stop from McCarthy.

The goalkeeper stuck out a right hand to tip over Daniel Podence’s glanced header – after the Portuguese winger was left unmarked from a free-kick.

McCarthy then denied Podence once more after the break – flying to his left to parry away after the paceman had run at Vestergaard.

But it was Saints who grabbed the opener through Walcott on 58 minutes.

After neat work from Armstrong and Moussa Djenepo in the build-up, Adams’s second bite of the cherry allowed him to put the ball on a plate for his strike partner to tap home.

It was Walcott’s first Saints goal in 5,435 days.

And he should have made it 2-0 just seven minutes later. A sublime ball from Adams set Walcott through – but he dragged wide of the far post when looking to place it in the corner.

Wolves introduced Neto for the final 20 minutes of the contest and the change almost paid dividends. After Traore burst down the right, his ball across goal found Neto with time to shoot – but Kyle Walker-Peters was on hand to block for Saints.

But Neto was to get his goal as he netted the leveller with 15 minutes remaining.

After Raul Jimenez’s strike cannoned off the post – the former Lazio man was on hand to tap in the follow-up and earn his side a point.

Wolves: Patricio; Dendoncker, Boly, Kilman; Semedo, Moutinho, Neves (Neto, 70), Ait-Nouri; Traore, Jimenez, Podence (Vitinha, 86).

Unused subs: Marcal, Silva, Otasowie, Ruddy (g/k).

Booked: Neves, Traore.

Saints: McCarthy, Walker-Peters, Bednarek, Vestergaard, Bertrand; Romeu, Ward-Prowse; Armstrong (Diallo, 90), Djenepo (Long, 79); Adams, Walcott.

Unused subs: Stephens, Obafemi, Tella, N’Lundulu, Forster (g/k).

Booked: None.

Refere: Andre Marriner.

VAR: Paul Tierney.