Wolves 2 Fulham 1
Many people at Molineux questioned the appointment of Gary O’Neil just before the start of the season. Wolves have had a tough ride, mainly thanks to VAR, but the manager has turned them into potential European candidates.
As they welcomed Fulham, they were looking to keep moving up the table. Marco Silva’s side have been inconsistent at best this season. Having got to a Carabao Cup semi-final, their performances are more Jekyll and Hyde than any other team this campaign.
They had the first chance of the game as the ball was worked to Pereira in the box. He looked to bend one in the far corner but a fingertip save from Jose Sa was enough to divert the effort wide of the goal. Great reactions from the keeper.
Iwobi then did well in the middle of the park before slotting a pass into the path of Wilson. He used his pace to get in front of the defender, with only the keeper to beat. Clipping the ball past Sa on the outside of his left-foot, it went agonisingly wide of the post.
Credit: @Wolves
The Cottagers were dominating the first half hour of this game. They continued to ask questions of Gary O’Neil’s side. As the ball was worked to the far post, Tosin was in acres of space. He shot first time but had his head in his hands as it struck the top of the crossbar.
Neto received the ball down the right wing and looked to get to the byline before he pulled up with what seemed like a hamstring injury. This is proving to be somewhat of a problem for the tricky winger, something which will probably stop bigger clubs coming in for him.
Whatever the manager said at the break seemed to work as Gomes cut the ball back from the byline for Ait-Nouri to slot home. Molineux erupted as the hosts got the lead, which they had not threatened doing at all in the first half.
Lemina then spotted the run of Fraser but Leno came out quickly to block the effort. Shortly later, Semedo shot from the edge of the box, striking Cairney and wrong-footing the Wolves’ keeper. Marco Silva sunk into his chair, ruing his side’s luck.
Fulham came into life as they tried to find a way back into the game. Only Jose Sa and Max Kilman could deny them. Firstly the keeper made a one-handed save before the defender headed one off the line to keep their two goal lead intact.
Ait-Nouri then found Lemina who tried to find the far corner but put his shot wide. It was a big chance for the hosts to put this game to bed. The midfielder hung his head in shame, knowing that he should have scored.
Credit: @Wolves
Deep into added time, Fulham continued to press. As a cross was diverted into the danger area, Iwobi reacted well to flick it past Jose Sa. In the eighth minute of stoppage time, this was to prove just a consolation for the visitors.
It moved Wolves up to eighth spot in the table and they could genuinely start to think about bringing European football to the Midlands. Fulham remain in mid table with relegation fears well away from them thanks to a fourteen-point cushion.
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