Toothless Wolves

Wolverhampton Wanderers 0 v Fulham FC 0

It was Benjamin Franklin who in 1789 wrote the immortal words “but in this world nothing can be more certain than death and taxes.” Had he lived to the present day he might well have added, “and Wolves’ inability to score.” Pedro Neto (twice), Hwang Hee-Chan, Daniel Podence and Morgan Gibbs-White all had good opportunities to convert but once again failed to do so. The new 4-3-3 set up was creating chances, but the longer the drought the more desperate and lacking in composure did the attempts to become.

Though recently promoted Fulham achieved a creditable draw in their season opener against Liverpool last week, they are a poor side. I counted one decent effort – a header from a corner in the twentieth minute which Ruben Neves cleared off the line – but bar that their attack was powder puff. So powder puff in fact that it required a rash challenge by Ryan Ait-Nourri on Bobby Decordova-Reid to hand them their second, an 80th minute penalty. Step forward Aleksander Mitrovic whose poorly directed effort allowed Jose Sa to save and in part absolve himself of an indifferent performance in the season opener at Leeds.

Thereafter the play acting and time wasting by the visitors achieved industrial quantities leaving fans to question the point of a referee and whether what was being watched constituted entertainment. When in minute 88 yet another Fulham diva went to ground I duly departed, the sunshine in West Park far preferable to the misery of seven minutes of time added on.

Wolverhampton Wanderers: Sa 7, Castro Otto 6 Sub Semedo, Collins 6, Kilman 7, Ait-Nourri 5, Dendoncker 6, Neves 6, Gibbs-White 6, Neto 6 Sub Traore, Hee-Chan 5 Sub Guedes, Podence 6

Fulham FC: Rodak 6, Tete 5 Sub Francois, Adarabioyo 6, Ream 6, Robinson 6, Reed 6, Palhinha 6, Kebano 7 Sub Stansfield, Pereira 5 Sub Cairney, De Cordova Reid 6 Sub Mbabu, Mitrovic 5.

Attendance: 31,328

Referee: J Brooks 6

©Mark Brennand