The Academy under 18s go into Saturday's Compton Park meeting with Sheffield Wednesday on the back of a fine victory at Southampton.

The youngsters made the long trip to the south coast and were rewarded with three points thanks to Liam McAlinden's first-half strike.

Wolves started the game well against an accomplished Saints team and moved into a deserved lead in the 18^th minute when Jack Price played in McAlinden (pictured right) who finished well.

The visitors continued to ask questions of the Southampton back four but there was no further score before the break.

It was a much more equal contest in the second-half although Daniel East in the Wolves goal wasn't unduly worried until Saints turned up the pressure in the final ten minutes. But they couldn't find a way through a resolute defence.

Coach Mick Halsall said: "It was a long day - we started out at 7.15am - and there are a couple of things we need to tighten up and work on.

"But overall I was really pleased because it was a good result and, perhaps more importantly, a good performance."