On a night with more than a hint of carnival in the air, Fulham
prepared for life in the Premiership while Wolves, as is so often the case with
them, looked forward hopefully to better things in what will be their 13th consecutive
season in the second stratum.
International calls had given the Fulham team an unfamiliar look
and Wolves were arguably the better side in an opening 20 minutes characterised
by the determination of both teams to keep the ball.
All that changed in the 23rd minute, however, when an injection
of pace from Louis Saha, followed by a superb reverse pass, gave Karlheinz Riedle
the chance to burst between two defenders into the penalty area and tumble over
Kevin Muscat's outstretched leg.
Saha scored his 31st goal of the season from the penalty spot.
Again he satisfied himself with a two-pace run-up prior to side-footing the
ball low to goalkeeper Michael Oakes's left.
Sean Davis, with a curling 30-yard free kick, came close to doubling
Fulham's advantage just after half-time but Muscat, headed off the line.
However, Muscat's night was made complete when he again bundled
over Riedle. This time, Saha's three-pace run up and a shot off the underside
of the crossbar did the trick.
Source Electronic Telegraph