Wolves close in on Europe
Wolverhampton Wanderers 1 v Fulham FC 0
When last season Wolves gained promotion from the Championship the fans sensed that for the first time in years the side had the potential to survive in the rarefied atmosphere of the Premier League. Legion is the list of those who possess potential but fail to deliver. But as season 2018/19 draws to a close, with Wolves settled in an impressive seventh place in the Premier League it is probably true to say that they have exceeded by some margin their potential. Today’s opponents Fulham, also gained automatic promotion from the Championship. But unlike Wolves their potential, if it ever existed, failed to materialise and after a mere season in the top flight they find themselves boomeranging back to the Championship. Whether they deserved to lose this penultimate game of the season is perhaps debatable. They had three clear cut chances but failed to convert one. Wolves had slightly more and did so. I sense that editing tonight’s Match of the Day highlights will not present a challenge.
First half; In minute 10 lovely interplay between Joao Moutinho and Raul Jimenez set Diogo Jota free his shot well saved by Sergio Rico. Four minutes later Jota grazed an upright with a fine left foot strike and in the 31st minute Leander Dendoncker’s header rattled the bar following a short free kick. Eight minutes later Fulham defender Joe Bryan found himself beyond the Wolves back line and from just inside the box his effort was tipped over by Rui Patricio.
Second half; slightly more lively than the first although at times one felt that the game had all the passion of a pre-season friendly. Irritating decisions by referee Jonathan Moss helped to raise the ire together with some errant finishing Jota a culprit on 53 minutes when he pulled his effort wide. With two thirds of the game gone Aleksandar Mitrovic found himself free with just Patricio to beat but skied his effort over the bar. Ten minutes later it appeared that the deadlock had been finally broken when Matt Doherty found the back of the net, only to be adjudged offside. Then five minutes later Wolves did finally score, Doherty again involved, his cross from the right being turned in on the volley by Dendoncker. And that was our lot.
The win leaves Wolves well placed to gain a place in the Europa League. That, and the possibility of determining the outcome of the Premier League when they play Liverpool at Anfield next Sunday.
Wolves: Patricio 6 Sub Norris, Bennett 6, Coady 6, Boly 6 Sub Kilman, Doherty 6, Castro Otto 7 Sub Vinagre, Neves 6, Moutinho 7, Dendoncker 7, Jota 6, Jimenez 6
Fulham FC: Rico 7, Sessegnon 6 Sub Ayite, Christie 6, Le Marchand 6, Ream 6, Bryan 7, Cairney 6, Chambers 6, Zambo Anguissa 6 Sub Elliott, Mitrovic 5, Babel 6
Attendance: 30,456
Referee: Jonathan Moss 7
©Mark Brennand