Tom Cairney described Fulham’s stoppage-time victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers as ‘massive‘ – and believes it can kick-start their season.

The Fulham captain was delighted with the way his side started the game and felt the confidence flowing through the team after Alex Iwobi gave Marco Silva’s side a seventh minute lead. He told Sky Sports after the final whistle:

“We spoke before the game and said the win is important, but I think the performance is more important, because with good performances come wins. We concentrated on ourselves tonight and I think you can see that. The game plan was to play well from 0-0.

We’ve always played well when we’ve been trailing this season, but you can’t climb mountains in this league. You have to turn up at 0-0, play positive, play with arrogance and I felt like we did that a little bit tonight. [The early goal] was key. We’ve gone behind far too often this season, especially at home as well. To go 1-0 up gives you that little bit of energy, that little bit of extra legs and I think you could tell.”

Cairney was not giving an inch in the post-match interview when asked about the penalty he won for a challenge by Nelson Semedo in the second half, even if he did deliver a nice line in self-deprecation.

“I was travelling fairly quick for me and I got there. “I’ve moved the ball and [Semedo] hit my ankle. At that pace it takes you down and yeah, it was a penalty.”

The Scottish international was in no doubt about the importance of Fulham’s return to winning ways.

“It was massive. They brought it back twice and looked a very good team, but I just felt like that we had that extra little bit tonight and we weren’t going to leave without three points.”