Match Report
Wolverhampton Wanderers (1) 1-1 (1) Fulham
Premiership Match Day 37 25/26 at Molineux Stadium
Sunday 17th May 2026 KO: 15:00
Referee:
Thomas Kirk (Yorkshire)
Live on Sky Sports
|
Fulham were unable to overcome a stubborn Wolverhampton Wanderers side at Molineux on Sunday.
Having trailed to a fine strike from teenager Matheus Mane, the Whites went in at the break level courtesy of Antonee Robinson’s stoppage time penalty – his first Premier League goal.
There was no lack of attacking intent from the boys in the second half, but the end product wasn’t quite there to complete the turnaround, and we were forced to settle for the draw.
Marco Silva made four changes to his XI for the penultimate match of the campaign.
Joachim Andersen began a three-game suspension and was replaced by Issa Diop, with Sander Berge, Oscar Bobb and Alex Iwobi also coming in for Tom Cairney, Harry Wilson and Samuel Chukwueze, who were all on the bench.
After a patient start to proceedings, Fulham fashioned the first chance on 12 minutes. Rodrigo Muniz beat home ‘keeper Jose Sa to the ball and laid off to Timothy Castagne. His cross was on a plate for Iwobi at the far stick, but the shot – though firmly struck – was straight at Sa.
Wolves responded with a very clean Mane strike from the edge of the box that was arrowing in until Bernd Leno – making his 250th Premier League appearance – intervened at full stretch.
Rodrigo Gomes then had a couple of sighters. The first was miscued and never a threat, but it was much closer moments later when he skipped the challenge of Robinson before drilling the wrong side of the far post.
| Match Stats |
Wolves |
Fulham |
| Goals |
(1) 1 |
1 (1) |
|
| Scorers |
Mané 25 |
Robinson pen 45+3 |
| , |
| Goal attempts |
11 |
13 |
| On target |
3 |
5 |
| Shooting Accuracy |
27% |
38% |
| Possession |
31% |
69% |
| Passes |
252 |
580 |
| Passes Success |
69% |
86% |
| Crosses |
14 |
20 |
| Crosses Success |
43% |
20% |
| Corners |
3 |
6 |
| Tackles |
11 |
11 |
-->
| Tackles Success |
69% |
65% |
| Saves |
4 |
2 |
| Fouls |
20 |
8 |
| Offsides |
1 |
2 |
| Yellows |
1 |
0 |
| Reds |
0 |
0 |
| source: Premier League |
The momentum was building from Wolves, and they made it tell on 26 minutes when Hee Chan Hwang laid off to Mane who rifled home from the edge of the box.
Berge will be disappointed he didn’t immediately restore parity when Saša Lukic’s corner evaded Sa and found him at the far post, but the big Norwegian sent his header down into the ground and over the bar.
As we passed the half hour mark, Bobb and Castagne combined neatly down the right to create a shooting chance for the latter, but he lashed narrowly wide.
Sa was then called into a couple of saves, but he was never unduly troubled by Berge’s deflected volley or Smith Rowe’s angled drive.
Wolves were perhaps fortunate to have not conceded a penalty earlier in the half for hands on Smith Rowe, but their luck ran out in stoppage time when VAR clocked that Mane had caught Castagne on the shin in the box.
With Raúl Jiménez on the bench, Robinson was the man who shouldered responsibility from 12 yards, coolly sending Sa the wrong way to level the scores.
Fulham began the second half with a more attacking lineup after Kevin had been brought on for Berge, but it was Wolves who had the first chance, and Yerson Mosquera should have done better when he sent a free header wide.
From a corner up the other end, the ball was only cleared as far as Iwobi, who bent his shot into the grateful arms of Sa.
Midway through the half, Hwang’s reverse pass sent Adam Armstrong in on goal, but thankfully his dink came back off the upright having cleared Leno.
Prior to that, Raúl had come on to a fantastic reception from the home fans, but his first attempt didn’t go how he envisaged, slicing wide from Bobb’s lay-off.
It was an entirely new frontline for Fulham by the time we entered the final 10, with Wilson one of those brought on, and his eyes lit up when he collected the ball 20 yards out, only for Sa to get down low to make the save.
The script seemed set for Raúl to win it in stoppage time when he stepped up at a free-kick, but his effort straight into the wall was symptomatic of a game that hadn’t been blessed with quality, as we had to settle for a point.
Fulham boss Marco Silva:
"It was a must-win game for us to keep some hopes under our control. If you want hopes for European places, it was a must-win game.
"It was difficult for us to be ruthless and put the ball in the back of the net. Overall, we were in control of the game but they punished us.
"The second half wasn't good enough; we didn't create many chances. It was a very weird second half and for me, it is difficult to find a reason. Nervous, I don't know. Without pressure and giving the ball away.
"We tried but didn't have an impact. It was difficult for us, that is the reason why it was not good enough in the second half. It was a crucial week this week."
Speaking on his future, he added: "I'm going to meet with the board, we are going to analyse, we are going to say some important things which will be crucial to the club's future in the way I want the club to move.
"And after (that), the decision is going to be made.
"It is a moment for the club to address many things; it's one of the most important summers in this football club."
Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-1 Fulham highlights
Wolverhampton Wanderers
: Sa, Mosquera, S Bueno, Krejci, Wolfe (Hugo Bueno 85), J Gomes, Andre, R Gomes (Lima 85), Mane, Hee-Chan (Bellegarde 79), Armstrong (Arokodare 72)
Unused substitutes: T Gomes, Bentley, Tchatchoua, Gomes, Edozie
Goals:
Mané 25 (right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Hwang Hee-Chan following a fast break.)
Yellow Card:André (f,90+4)
Fulham: Leno, Castagne, Diop, Bassey, Robinson, Lukic, Berge (Kevin 45), Bobb (Chukwueze 79), Smith Rowe (Wilson 79), Iwobi (King 67), R Muniz (Jimenez 67)
Unused substitutes: Tete, Cairney, Cuenca, Lecomte
Goals:
Robinson 45+3 (converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the bottom left corner. Timothy Castagne draws a foul in the penalty area.)
Referee:
Thomas Kirk (Yorkshire)
Attendance: 28,709
Fulham are next in action against Newcastle United at Craven Cottage on Sunday 24th May 16.00 live on Sky Sports.