SAINTS gave Ralph Hasenhuttl the perfect response at Wolves following their run of three defeats on the bounce.

Hasenhuttl’s outfit took the lead against the home side through Danny Ings but had their goal cancelled out by Raul Jiminez’s penalty.

The point was enough to keep Saints outside the relegation zone on goal difference and give their manager reasons to be optimistic.

When asked if he was satisfied with his team’s performance, Hasenhuttl responded: “Absolutely.

“The feeling in the dressing room was that we knew it was time to show up and to step back and have a better performance.

“We know that it wasn’t easy against Tottenham and Chelsea, but we were very critical with ourselves and I think that’s the right way to make something better.

“It’s always important to take something and, after the last three games, the situation wasn’t easy because you need something to build on.

“This game is something we can take from. We can be critical of a few things in the second half but also be positive with a lot of good habits and automatism we showed.”

Saints dominated for large parts of the match at Molineux, ending the encounter with 14 shots, compared to Wolves’ four.

They were helped out by VAR during the first half though, as it reversed both of Jimenez’s strikes.

The first one was ruled out due to the striker handling the ball in order to get it under control, with this also resulting in him being cautioned.

He then thought he finally had his name on the scoresheet when he tapped in from an Angus Gunn save, only for play to be brought back for an offside.

Saints have now had six goals ruled out in their favour by VAR – which is more than any other top-flight side.

“I think it makes the game fairer. It’s a positive thing about VAR.

“I know it’s not always nice if you score a goal and then have to wait, suddenly it’s a mental boost for me and our team and a disaster for the other team.

“But, in the end, it’s more fair and we can be happy that VAR is there.

“I wouldn’t be so demanding and say they should take the penalty back because, if it doesn’t get given immediately, I don’t think it will be given later.

“He [Doherty] did it very clever, he was searching for small contact and he got it.

“I think VAR did a good job.”