The fickle finger of fate often swings around on the footballers in the blink of an eye. Last week, Aleksandar Mitrovic was the toast of Hammersmith and Fulham for his finest performance in a Fulham shirt where he utterly humiliated Virgil van Dijk during a vintage of example of modern forward play – grabbing a brace as Marco Silva’s side took a creditable point on the opening day of the Premier League season against Liverpool. Seven days later, the Serbian striker stumbled from the penalty spot when presented with the chance to clinch Fulham’s first league win at Molineux since April 1986 – and Mitrovic was fortunate not to be sent off for losing his cool in a clash with Morgan Gibbs-White as time ticked away.
Once again, the immediate emotion after the final whistle was one of deflation for Fulham after having to settle for a point that could so easily have been three. Mitrovic’s remarkable goalscoring return since arriving in SW6 from Newcastle in 2018 leaves him plenty of credit in the bank – but his poor penalty aimed at the opposite corner from the one that beat Allison last weekend was smartly saved by Jose Sa. Fulham had fleeting moments in attack on a sweltering afternoon in the West Midlands, but most impressive was how hard to break down the visitors were without the ball: with a defensive discipline that meant Marek Rodak only had a single shot to save.
It looked like being a testing afternoon for the Slovakian international, once again preferred to summer signing Bernd Leno in goal, when Wolves carved out two clear cut chances in the first five minutes. Rodak spread himself to thwart Pedro Neto after Daniel Podence had played the winger in between the visiting back line and was called upon again to deny Hwang Hee-chan from another Podence through ball. Fulham settled quickly afterwards and created a chance from their first sweeping move along the left flank with the excellent Antonee Robinson involved alongside Neeskens Kebano but Mitrovic blazed well over from sixteen yards.
The Whites took heart from the way they had opened up their hosts and Wolves were indebted to Reuben Neves for an outstanding goal-line clearance after Bobby Decordova-Reid had directed an Andreas Pereira corner past Sa and towards the bottom corner with his head. At the other end, a moment’s confusion between Rodak and Tosin Adarabioyo saw the pair present Neto with the perfect opportunity to slide Wolves ahead but the winger failed to finish and Podence fired wide on the follow up.
In the energy-sapping heat, the second half began with sloppy passes and error-strewn football. Wolves wasted a glorious chance eight minutes after the interval when Rayan Ait-Nouri’s low ball across the box reached Gibbs-White, who slide in at the back post only for the finish to balloon over the crossbar with the goal gaping. The hosts huffed and puffed in the final third but struggled to hurt a well-organised Fulham outfit, who might have pinched all three points from the penalty spot late on. Alt-Nouri’s ill-time lunge on Decordova-Reid saw the referee point to the spot, but the visiting supporters’ celebrations proved premature. Silva’s side were further depleted by injuries sustained by Kenny Tete and Neeskens Kebano, but the Whites finished with three academy graduates on the pitch. Jay Stansfield made his Premier League debut and looked lively in an unfamiliar role.
Wolves were on the front foot throughout seven minutes of stoppage time but couldn’t force a winner and much of that was down to the resolution of Rodak, Ream and Adarabioyo. Fulham could be content with how easily they managed to shut down a Wolves side, who have shown little of the vibrancy that has characterised their longevity in the top flight. Pivotal to that effort was the work ethic of Harrison Reed and Joao Palhina in the middle, but each player put in a serious side. Fulham can’t be too disheartened with two points from their first two outings in the top flight.
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS (4-2-3-1): Sa; Jonny (Semedo 78), Alt Nouri, Collins, Kilman; Dendoncker, Neves; Gibbs-White, Podence, Neto (Traore 78); Hwang (Guedes 57). Subs (not used): Sarkic, Boly, Gomes, Cundle Ronan, Campbell.
BOOKED: Podence, Neves.
FULHAM (4-2-3-1): Rodak; Tete (Francois 90+2), A. Robinson, Adarabioyo, Ream; Reed, Palhinha; Decordova-Reid (Mbabu 90+4), Kebano (Stansfield 83), Pereira (Cairney 86); Mitrovic. Subs (not used): Leno, Duffy, Diop, Chalobah, Muniz.
BOOKED: Palhinha, Reed, Mitrovic.
REFEREE: John Brooks (Leicestershire).
ATTENDANCE: 31,317
Way too hot for football!
The players that impressed were those most doubted before the season began.
Marek Rodak, apart from one blunder in the first half, performed well.
Tim Ream and Tosin were excellent in central defence.
My pet hate, Antonee Robinson, was, arguably, our best player.
In the middle, Palhina was, again, excellent and well supported by a battling performance, as usual, from Harrison Reed.
Unfortunately, that’s it.
Attacking wise, apart from glimpses from Kebano, we were void of creation with Pereira having a terrible afternoon where nothing seemed to come off and Decordova Reid, once again, working hard but unable to produce anything significant. On one occasion, Ream found him immaculately with a long cross field pass from, at least, 35 yards, only for Decordova Reid to miscue his simple 5 yard pass that might have created an opening. It’s clear that we need more quality here.
The penalty miss was unfortunate but 3 points would have masked the deficiencies that need correcting.
Great to see Jay Stansfield get on (eventually). He was stripped and ready several minutes before he was introduced. It would be nice, however, to actually see him get a chance in his proper position instead of being stuck out wide.
Two games -two draws. Definitely not outclassed in either game but definite room for improvement.
Fulham are CHEATS feining injury at every opportunity it got that embarrassing that one player was layed out in goal area apparently with an head injury, talk about magic sponge he left to his feet and sprinted around the touchline, it’s out and out cheating.
Silva the manager is no different he’s all mouth, wind and urine and in need of a good slap has do those gobby couple of hundred fans in the Steve Bull lower, John Brooks the referee was clearly in Fulham pockets and clearly paid to give decisions their way, one clear decision was how Harrison Reed managed to stay on the pitch having been booked continuously fouled Wolves players, same with the gorilla Mitrovic who is more suited to a bar room brawler, all in all a dirty, cheating side that the premiership doesn’t need their bar room pub team antics so the sooner they are back to were they belong in the championship.
A very one eyed commentary. Wolves could, and should have been three up before halftime if they had taken their chances. Their need for a decent striker obvious to everyone. Yes, Fulham had theirs too but taking three points via the penalty would have been daylight robbery. Good away performance though and plenty to provide confidence for the season ahead.
Yes.But we need two wingers and a striker before the window is over as wilson and solomon may be out for a while.
Defensively we were good against a punch less attack. if Mitro does not produce, then we look very unlikely to score. I thought Periera had a very poor match. We do need some more options urgently up front with some pace Decodova Reed works hard with no end result, He is only worth a place on the bench. It was great to see Stansfield come on, but please give him longer on the pitch. He has real potential and knows where the goal is he looks a natural. There are two ways of looking at our season so far Undefeated or Winless!!
A realistic article and totally agree with John W’s comments, more pace needed up front to stand in/ give completion to Harry and Soloman when they are back. Periera looked good 1st 2 games but if he is going to be inconsistent then give Jay a run out.