Ship steadied
Wolverhampton Wanderers 1 v Fulham FC 0
When, some three weeks ago, Wolves opened their Premier League season with a fine 2-0 win against Sheffield United (something of a bogey team last year) there was a belief that normal service had been resumed. I say this in light of their previous game, a tired and lacklustre defeat to Sevilla in the Europa Cup.
In the wake of that United win, Diogo Jota became the second player from the established Wolves line-up to depart, Matt Doherty having done so during the closed season. Both had been integral to Wolves renewal under Nuno and replacing them with oven ready bodies would not be easy. So too Johnny Otto whose absence due to long injury is another hole not easily filled.
Against this backdrop came Manchester City. Wolves did the double on them last season but this time it was not to be as City’s a high tempo game eased them to a 3-1 win. Encouragingly Wolves had created opportunities but the gulf between hope and deed is vast. Indeed any further signs of encouragement were soon extinguished as Wolves first lost to second tier Stoke City in the Carabao Cup and then struggling West Ham, whose 4-0 drubbing was possibly the worst defeat of Nuno’s tenure.
Thus did the visit to Molineux of lowly Fulham take on a greater hue. And, as is often the way, after twenty minutes of a turgid encounter it was the visitors who looked the more threatening. Eventually in minute 26 Wolves sprang to life as Fulham keeper Alphonse Areola first denied Pedro Neto and then Nelson Samedo with two fine saves. This however would mark the high point of Wolves first half performance where retaining possession seemed to take on greater import than creating opportunities.
It would take ten minutes of the second half for Wolves to spark again, Raul Jimenez being put through only to squander his chance. From the ensuing corner the ball found its way to Pedro Neto whose fine left foot strike from the edge of the box broke the deadlock. And I suspect tension in the Wolves dug out.
But undeterred Fulham continued to strive, aided by the introduction of debutant Ademola Lookman, whose lively link up play began to cause problems. In the 72nd minute a fine Fulham counter-attack split the Wolves defence, only for Aboubaka Kamara to fluff his lines, firing tamely at Rui Patricio.
Had that chance been taken it would have made for an interesting last fifteen. But as it was Wolves closed-up shop and held on for a ship steadying victory. As with last season it is taking time for the Old Gold to get going. It may be more prolonged this, the bedding in of new players and that all important understanding, a medium-term challenge. But Wolves are essentially made up of good footballers. I’d just like to see them move the ball around at greater pace.
Ps. And whilst here, hats off the Aaron Rai who beat Tommy Fleetwood in a 1st hole play-off to claim the Scottish Open. The lad from Wolverhampton followed up the disappointment of missing out on last week’s Irish Open by shooting a final round 64 to get him into the playout with fellow Englishman Fleetwood. Parring the first extra hole, to Fleetwood’s bogey, he demonstrated a streak of steel not given to many. And based on that and a solid putting stroke I’d put money on him winning quite a lot more.
Wolverhampton Wanderers: Patricio 6, Boly 6, Coady 6, Kilman 6, Samedo 6 Sub Hoever, Saiss 6, Neves 6, Dendoncker 6, Neto 7 Sub Traore, Podence 6 Sub Moutinho, Jimenez 6
Fulham FC: Areola 7, Aina 6, Ream 6, Le Marchand 6, Robinson 6, Cairney 6, Zambo Anguissa 6, Cavaleiro 5 Lookman 7, De Cordova-Reid 6 Sub Kebano, Bryan 6 Sub Kamara, Mitrovic 6
Attendance: Nil (Covid 19)
Referee: Darren England 8
©Mark Brennand