Match Report
Fulham (1) 3-2 (1) Wolverhampton Wanderers
Premier League Match Day 13 23/24 at Craven Cottage
Monday 27th November 2023 KO: 20:00
Referee:
Michael Salisbury (Lancashire)
Live on SkySports
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Fulham made a mockery of their recent struggles in front of goal with a super opener. Willian rolled Antonee Robinson in down the line and the fullback's low cross was gleefully turned home by Iwobi, who was revelling in his more advanced role.
It was his first goal of the season but fourth in nine matches against his favourite opponents Wolves.
With Fulham's tails up and Iwobi creating another dangerous moment almost instantly from the restart, Wolves were inches away with a sharp response when Hwang cracked an effort against the bar on the counter. The equaliser wasn't long coming.
Bellegarde turned Robinson inside out before standing the ball up at the back post for Cunha to power in his third of the campaign.
Fulham's lack of confidence at both ends of the pitch was on show when Willian hesitated and missed the chance to convert from Iwobi's deep cross later in the half and the hosts were soon scrambling in their own box when Toti drilled the ball into the danger zone.
There was then almost a calamity when Bernd Leno lost the ball as he tried to play out under pressure from Mario Lemina.
Timothy Castagne had to produce a sensational piece of defending to prevent sub Matt Doherty from turning in at the near post from Hwang's cross at the start of the second half, and it proved a decisive moment, with Fulham winning their first penalty just three minutes later.
During the long VAR check it became apparent Semedo had got a foot on the ball but his subsequent contact with Cairney was upheld as a foul and Willian coolly sent Jose Sa the wrong way to put Fulham back in front.
| Match Stats |
Fulham |
Wolves |
| Goals |
(1)3 |
2 (1) |
|
| Scorers |
A Iwobi 7 |
Cunha 22 |
|
Willian pen 59 |
Hwang pen 75 |
|
Willian pen 94 |
- |
| , |
| Goal attempts |
12 |
0 |
| On target |
6 |
6 |
| Shooting Accuracy |
50% |
60% |
| Possession |
60% |
40% |
| Passes |
639 |
432 |
| Passes Success |
84% |
75% |
| Crosses |
18 |
6 |
| Crosses Success |
22% |
33% |
| Corners |
6 |
2 |
| Tackles |
17 |
11 |
| Tackles Success |
41% |
55% |
| Saves |
0 |
0 |
| Fouls |
13 |
13 |
| Offsides |
1 |
1 |
| Yellows |
2 |
2 |
| Reds |
0 |
0 |
| source: SkySports |
That goal breathed confidence into Fulham and Iwobi forced a good stop from Sa as they pressed forwards, but once again they gave up their advantage. Ream's clumsy challenge on Hwang was deemed to have happened just inside the box by ref Salisbury and then VAR, and the inform Wolves forward thumped home the spotkick for his seventh of his impressive season. However, no second yellow card for the defender materialised.
The drama was far from over, though, when Wilson tumbled in the final minute of normal time. It will bring back memories of Fabio Silva's injury time foul on George Baldock at Sheffield United for Wolves fans.
It was the fifth penalty Wolves have conceded this season and Willian made sure it was punished again, powering past Sa, who guessed right this time.
There was threat of another late twist, when the ball popped up in the Fulham box and caught Reed's arm but the final whistle brought relief and a rare victory over Wolves to the home side, and frustration and anger in the visitors' camp.
Fulham manager Marco Silva speaking to Sky Sports: "It's a really important win for us. We wanted to see a reaction from back to back defeats. It was really important for us to minimise the errors. We started really well. I really wanted to see the quality, the intensity. It was the Fulham I wanted to see.
"We needed spirit. We always tried to win the game more than Wolves."
Fulham : Leno, Castagne, Bassey, Ream, Robinson, Reed, Cairney (Lukic 95), Iwobi, Pereira (Wilson 76), Willian (Abarabioyo 95), Jimenez (Vinicius 76)
Unused substitutes: Rodak, Tete, Ballo-Toure, De Cordova-Reid, Harris
Goals:
Iwobi 07 (Great start for Fulham! They've got in behind Wolves' wingbacks a few times already and now they have their reward, with Robinson flying down the left before pulling the ball back. Iwobi arrives unmarked and slots the ball past Sa. FPL assist: Robinson)
Willian 59 (Cairney robs Lemina with a strong challenge and Fulham pour forward, with Semedo then catching the Fulham captain just inside the box. Calm as you like from Willian! The veteran strolls up, sends Sa the wrong way and rolls it into the bottom corner. FPL assist: Cairney)
Willian pen 94 (Emphatic from Willian! His first was slotted to the right but this one is buried into the bottom left corner. Sa went the right way but he had no hope. Huge celebrations from Silva but what will O'Neil say about another two penalties going against his side tonight? (FPL assist: Wilson)
Booked: Ream (19,f), Vinicius (88,arg)
Wolverhampton Wanderers: Jose Sa, Bueno, Kilman, Toti, Semedo, Bellegarde (Kalajdzic 62), Lemina, Gomes, Ait-Nouri (Doherty 19), Hwang, Cunha (Doyle 83)
Unused substitutes: Traore, Silva, Bueno, Otto, Sarabia, Bentley
Goals:
Cunha 22 (Really good response from Wolves! Wolves overload Fulham on the right, with Semedo carrying the ball forward before teeing up Bellegarde. He takes on Robinson, turning the Fulham leftback inside and out before clipping a ball to the back post for Cunha, who nods in a simple equaliser. FPL assist: Bellegarde)
Hwang pen 75 (Hwang hasn't been at it in the second half but he turns up when Wolves needed him, winning the penalty and then burying it with a firm strike down the middle. Leno dived to his left and had no chance.)
Booked: Gomes (33,f), Lemina (84,f)
Referee:
Michael Salisbury (Lancashire)
Attendance: 24366