Wolves have dropped two points since Matheus Cunha’s suspension, with the squad pushing on without their star player.
After Cunha was sent off against Bournemouth in the FA Cup, fear set in regarding where the punishment could leave Wolves in the battle for Premier League survival.
The Old Gold have managed well so far, dropping two points against Everton and then securing all three with a 2-1 win over Southampton at St Mary’s.
Jorgen Strand Larsen provided the goals on the South Coast to ensure Cunha wasn’t missed too much.
Jorgen Strand Larsen comments on Matheus Cunha’s absence
Wolves beat the Saints despite being tested by the bottom-of-the-table side after a slow start.
Three points was all that mattered and is what Vitor Pereira’s side walked away with, proving that the Old Gold can cope without their star player.
The Brazilian has one game left of his three-match ban, but, Cunha’s FA charge for acting in an ‘improper manager’ has still not been closed.
The outcome remains to be seen but, this won’t worry the Wolves squad too much, as Strand Larsen explained after the win at St Mary’s.
Speaking to Wolves’ official website, the match-winner opened up about how the squad is coping without Cunha on their side.
“I feel like the opportunities have still been there though – even though he’s a great player, he’s not saying to me I can’t score goals. Sometimes it takes space, but that’s what we need,” Strand Larsen explained.
“He’s a great player and he would have absolutely been really good to have today and we would need him today, but I think the guys that played did well. We did a great job as a team today, and I feel with him or without him, we feel the same.”
The Norweigan insisted that the squad ‘feel the same’ whether Cunha is with them or not but, emphasised just how brilliant his teammate is.
“He’s a star player, he’s our best player and he does great things with the ball, so of course we want him back, but at the moment, we have to work without him.”
Strand Larsen and Cunha have been crucial for Wolves
While there’s no arguing that Cunha is Wolves’ most influential forward, it’s not only the Brazil international who deserves the spotlight.
| Statistic | Matheus Cunha | Jorgen Strand Larsen |
| Goals | 13 | 9 |
| Assists | 4 | 2 |
| Conversion rate | 15% | 23% |
| Contribution to Wolves’ Premier League goals | 42.5% | 27.5% |
As seen against Southampton, Strand Larsen is up to the task, scoring twice to add to his tally in the Premier League this season.
Despite receiving criticism, the Norweigan is only four goals behind Cunha in the Premier League this term, with the duo both playing a significant part on the Old Gold’s road to survival.
Pereira’s next task is to get his two forwards ticking together to bolster Wolves’ chances in the final third, with Cunha set to return in April.