WHO NEEDS CENTRE BACKS?

It is always a unique experience visiting Fulham, with the quaint setting next to the Thames, a cottage in the ground, and mixing with home fans while queuing for a pint and a pie.

However, the family-friendly welcome appeared to be more hostile, with Wolves facing Iwobi, who always seems to be a problem for us, and of course the twin threat of Raúl and Traoré. All football fans fear the karma of an ex-player scoring against them, even if it is this much-loved pair.

The prospects of a happy day were further dented by the team news and the absence of Santi Bueno and Craig Dawson, leaving us crazily exposed. Suggested line-ups had Rayan Air Nouri in a three, surely not, and thankfully it was Lemina who thought he would have a go at yet another position for him this year. He doesn’t really fit the mould of a versatile player; he is surely a pure central midfielder, and a lot has been asked of him this year.

Storm Bert was at its height, and it appeared Wolves were in for a battering in every respect. Though spirits were lifted before kick-off when the Premier League anthem was immediately booed, and then the music itself was met with ironic cheers.

The starting line-up revealed a chance for Rodrigo Gomes to feature.

Sa, Semedo, Ait-Nouri, Toti Gomes, Lemina, André, João Gomes, Bellegarde, Cunha, Larsen, Rodrigo Gomes

First Half

Neither side really gained any dominance in the early stages with the Wolves threat mainly down the left with Rayan Ait-Nouri, Rodrigo Gomes and Cunha but with little from Bellegarde on the right, a theme that continued throughout the half. Fulham were overloading both wings and playing their way around the fullbacks with good mobility creating numerous crossing possibilities. 

Fortunately, this left little threat in the box to attack the crosses and most found their way to a Wolves head with Lemina and Totti coping very well. However, one cross fell to Raul with an open goal but he only managed o to crash it against the post, maybe old allegiances still apply.

Then came the seemingly inevitable after some weak defence on the Wolves left, Iwobi drifted towards the edge of the box and curved a perfect shot towards the top corner giving Sa no chance. A candidate for goal of the day but probably later beaten into 3^rd place.

After the goal, little changed until a sublime pass from Lemina was handled with such skilful care by Cunha ending in an exceptional goal. There are not many players in the Premier League that can repeatedly show that quality, we have something special here.

Encouragingly for Wolves the central midfield players of Andre and especially Joao Gomes were looking to move the ball forward rather than sideways, aided by the extra confidence of having the control of Lemina behind them who was moving the ball relatively quickly.

The half ended even which was a happier position for Wolves rather than Fulham who had shaded the half without really threatening Sa who didn’t have a save to make. Defences had largely been dominant allowing little space for either centre forward time on the ball in the box. Larsen did little on the ball but his presence is important to release space for Cunha to shine.

Second Half

Wolves came out with more positivity. Rodrigo Gomes continued to provide a threat on the left and now Bellegarde was contributing, with one cameo of magic footwork when he was seemingly surrounded. Joao Gomes was simply everywhere, an exceptional player off the ball but increasingly threatening Fulham running  forward with the ball. He was rewarded with a goal after a fantastic ‘no look pass’ from Cunha that sent the crowd the wrong way let alone the Fulham defence, clinically finished. 

Having made a raft of substitutions by Fulham, Anderson went down and off with an injury that left Fulham with ten men making the Wolves task a little easier. One of the substitutions was Raul and he was rightly then rewarded with heartfelt rendition of Si Senor.  Traore’s entrance turned out to be a subdued affair with him creating nothing of substance.

Thereafter the Cunha show stepped up a gear, good work battling for possession in the middle eventually led to the ball rolling towards Cunha and without a second thought a right foot sweep saw the ball seemingly heading directly towards me well wide of the target, but the incredible swerve saw it lodge in the top corner of the net, sheer quality. A moment of pure joy for all the travelling fans. The result was secured but this was not the end of Cunha, an interception by him (working hard off the ball!) saw him drive towards the goal only being thwarted by a last-ditch Fulham challenge.

Wolves then utilised their substitutions and a fine team move was smartly put away by Guedes who looked more frustrated than ecstatic in his celebration.

Reflections

Any point away against a team lying 7^th is a bonus and this was more than that, a magnificent 3 points that lifts us out of the bottom 3 and eases the pressure on Gary O’Neil. With Fulham restricted to 3 shots on target this time the 4 at the back did work and this writer is one of the few that still believe in it for certain games at least. Maybe Gary O’Neil does not know his best teams but having selection decisions is not always a bad thing, we have more than 11 good players.

Some exceptional performances from Cunha and Joao Gomes but a mention must go to the under pressure Toti as the only fit centre back he did not put a foot wrong.

The second half performance deserved the three points, but we must capitalise on the games before Christmas ready for a tough start in January.

Even the £7 pie could not spoil this day.