A below-par Fulham were held to a goalless draw by Wolverhampton Wanderers, who moved off the bottom of the table, at Loftus Road this afternoon. The stalemate marked the first time Chris Coleman’s side had failed to score in the top flight this season – although Louis Saha and Steed Malbranque both spurned glorious chances to secure a comfortable win.
The visitors were happy to settle for a precious point that takes them temporarily above Midlands rivals Leicester despite looking largely toothless in attack themselves. Fulham sorely missed the injured Luis Boa Morte, who returned from international duty with a hamstring strain, and Coleman’s efforts to break the deadlock were hindered by the fact that Barry Hayles was only fit enough for a second half cameo.
With Louis Saha seemingly having forgotten his shooting boots, it was a rare frustrating afternoon for the Fulham faithful after the Whites’ excellent start to life under Coleman. Saha, who has shown signs of rediscovering the form that saw him blast Fulham to the Division One title two years ago, headed horribly wide early on and sliced another excellent chance off target at the end of the first half. Just for good measure, he sent a free header wide at the death before Malbranque’s venomous volley in stoppage time came back off the crossbar. It clearer wasn’t going to be Fulham’s day.
Wolves had a largely containing gameplan and rarely threatened themselves with Henri Camara’s ambitious effort from range that flashed wide of goal their only real effort of the first half. Junichi Inamoto was booked for diving at the start of the second period and was replaced by Hayles as Coleman sought a change of fortune up front. But the physical forward was not as effective as he has been at times this season – with Wolves largely keeping him quiet.
Malbranque passed up the best opportunities in the closing stages – shooting straight at Michael Oakes after being released by Lee Clark – and he lay motionless on the turf after his first-time strike came crashing back off the woodwork. Wolves could have won it themselves at the death with a bit more conviction but Camara drove wildly off target when clean through on goal.
FULHAM (4-5-1): van der Sar; Leacock, Bonnissel, Knight, Goma; Pembridge, Inamoto (Hayles 65), Legwinski, Clark, Malbranque; Saha. Subs (not used): Crossley, Volz, Melville, Djetou.
BOOKED: Leacock, Inamoto.
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS (4-4-2): Oakes; Irwin, Butler, Craddock, Naylor; Gudjonsson, Rae, Cameron, Camara; Blake, Miller (Kennedy 59). Subs (not used): Murray, Ingimarsson, Sturridge, Kachloul.
BOOKED: Naylor, Miller.
REFEREE: Howard Webb (South Yorkshire).
ATTENDANCE: 17,031
