Mario Lemina was controversially sent off today for Wolves in their Premier League match against Southampton. But it thankfully didn’t stop Wolves from taking another massive three points.
The midfielder was starting his third game in a row, and was looking to build on his phenomenal performance against Liverpool.
But there was to be none of that today, with Lemina not even making it to the half-hour mark.
Lemina picked up a yellow card at St. Mary’s Stadium inside 10 minutes when he tripped Charly Alcaraz on the edge of the Southampton box.
It seemed a very harsh decision to caution Lemina so early in the game.
Then, just before the half-hour mark, Lemina was sent off by referee Jarred Gillett for what seemed like dissent.
Just moments before, Lemina wanted a foul which he didn’t get.
When the ball went out of play, Lemina made his way over the Gillett, as is a couple of other Wolves players.
Journalist Nathan Judah has reported on Twitter: “We’re hearing the explanation of Lemina’s second yellow card is because ‘Lemina ran towards the referee aggressively’.”
If that is the reason Gillett brandished a second yellow card, then something is not right.
Lemina jogged over briskly, but Gillett actually had his back to the player. And two other players were actually there before the Gabon international.
Gillett then turned round and sent him off.
Without any doubt, there needs to be an official explanation for what happened with Lemina’s dismissal. Because aggressively running towards the official simply cannot be the reason.
Despite the controversy, Wolves were able to come from behind and snatch all three points.
After Alcaraz had given the Saints the lead in the first half, there was an own goal from Bednarek after a goal-mouth scramble, and then Joao Gomes struck on his debut.
The Brazilian curled in a superb effort from the edge of the box, prompting scenes of absolute bedlam in the away end.