Southampton close to safety after beating Wolves 3-1 in EPL

SOUTHAMPTON, England (AP) — Nathan Redmond scored twice as Southampton boosted its hopes of avoiding relegation by beating Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-1 on Saturday in the Premier League.

Redmond put Southampton ahead in the second minute and then restored the hosts’ lead in the 30th, just two minutes after Willy Boly had equalized for Wolves. Shane Long added a third for the Saints, which moved eight points clear of 18th-placed Cardiff in the last relegation spot.

It was Redmond’s first league double since March 2017, highlighting his return to form under new manager Ralph Hasenhuttl in recent weeks.

Academy graduate Josh Sims set up the first goal when he raced round the back to deliver an inviting ball that allowed Redmond to sneak in front of the cover and blast into the net.

Wolves, who were coming off a disappointing extra-time loss to Watford in the FA Cup semifinals, replied when Boly met Joao Moutinho’s corner with a thumping header.

But Sims again helped Southampton get in front as he played a one-two with Danny Ings, who fed Redmond with a smart flick to send him free on goal and the forward dinked the ball past the stranded Rui Patricio.

Hasenhuttl brought on Long for Ings in the second half, and the substitute notched his second goal in as many games by flicking home from Maya Yoshida’s pass.