Mario Lemina dismissal in Wolves’ win away at Southampton ‘very strange’ – Julen Lopetegui

Julen Lopetegui has described Mario Lemina’s sending off in Wolves’ win at Southampton as “very strange”.

Wolves were forced to play for over an hour with 10 men after referee Jarred Gillett reached for a second yellow to dismiss Lemina.

Replays suggested Lemina was dismissed for having talked back to the official, but it was far from clear.

Lopetegui felt his player was shown the second yellow card for something he said to Gillett, and was unhappy with the decision.

“He didn’t deserve this yellow card,” Lopetegui said. “I think it was because he was dismissive of him, but I don’t know. It was very strange.

“For you to have one player less in the pitch, you need to have said several things, but it’s only because he said one thing.

“I have seen the images and there are a few players saying things to him, but he picked the first player he saw when he turned. But I don’t know.

“To me, it was a very unfair decision, because to play 11 v 11 against Southampton is hard, but to play 10 against 11 and losing the match is much more. But in the end, he takes his decision which was against us, but above all, I prefer to keep talking about the heat, the spirit and the reaction of the players.”

Wolves overcame the loss of Lemina and being a goal down to secure the three points, and the Spanish coach was delighted with the effort of his players.

“It was a very hard match above all because we played against a good team,” Lopetegui said. “They scored before us and we suffered, in my opinion, a very unbalanced and very unfair sending off for Lemina.

“But in the end, we suffered and it was difficult, but we believed and we worked in a very good way in the second-half.

“First of all, not suffering a second goal was key. We tried to draw and to win and it was a very good win for us. The players showed that they have a very big heart. They worked, they ran and they suffered, but in the end they have this reward.

“I have to give the gratitude to the players because they had to make a big effort. They believed in the bad moments with one player less for 70 minutes and they were losing the match.

“But in the end, they showed that when they play together, when they work together, they have a big heart and a big spirit.”