NICK PARKES TALKS WOLVES V FULHAM
A game that finished 3-2 to Fulham but it was yet another controversial match where numerous situations go against us and costs Wolves points. Gary O’Neil and his team left the capital city angry with decisions and scratching their heads at how week in week out they are unfairly treated and cheated out of points.
With Dawson suspended O’Neil selected Santiago Bueno to make his first premier league appearance in an otherwise unchanged team from our win against Tottenham.
FIRST HALF
From the opening minute Fulham exploited Wolves in wide areas and within the first ten minutes they cut through us several times and were unlucky not to take the lead before they actually did on 7 minutes. Fulham got men to overlap down our right and Bellegarde was far too slow in tracking his man who put in a simple cross into the 6 yard area to find an unmarked Iwobi to tap home. Wolves found themselves 1-0 down and rightly deserved to be.
After conceding however, Wolves started to find their shape and have a little control of the ball. A great interception from Lemina in his own half allowed him to play Hwang through and after a good first touch, his shot hit the crossbar. A possible key moment came in the form of an injury to Ait-Nouri who has been in good form of late, a twisted ankle meant Doherty replaced him on 18 minutes.
With pressure building slowly, Wolves managed a piece of brilliance to draw level in the 22nd minute. Lovely play down our right from Bellegarde, after being played in by Semedo. He danced around a few defenders and put in a high cross towards the back post where Cunha headed in to score his third premier league goal of the season. A lovely move finished off by a good header. 1-1.
The first half continued in a similar style of Wolves struggling defensively (especially in those wide areas) and us looking dangerous on the counter. Fulham looked shaky and Wolves tried to take advantage. Wolves breaking away with Hwang who was unlucky to only get a corner. And from the resulting corner in the 36th minute, the ball eventually dropped to Toti who played in a shot/cross that almost landed at the feet of Cunha for a tap in. Lemina also just before half time, closing down their keeper who almost gifted him an easy chance on goal.
Wolves went in 1-1 at half time and although Fulham played the better football, it was a fair score at the break as Wolves did good things at times but sloppy passing and poor out of possession.
SECOND HALF
Although we started the opening minutes of the second 45 on the front foot with efforts from Cunha and Lemina, Fulham’s high press put us on the back foot again. We struggled with their intensity and continued to lose possession and give too much room for Fulham’s attackers to drive at our defence.
The hour mark brought the first major VAR decision with Wolves failing to clear their lines properly and Semedo sticking out a foot to try and get the ball but “catching” the Fulham attacker and the ref pointed straight to the penalty. It was very similar to those against Newcastle and Sheffield United, and like those two, it shouldn’t have been given. Semedo got the ball first but the attackers buy a penalty for Fulham. They convert the penalty and Wolves trail by 2-1.
Wolves continued to be sloppy on and off the ball and Bellegarde made way for Sasa with O’Neil trying a different approach to get Wolves back in the game and it worked ten minutes later. A flick on from Sasa found Hwang running into the box to be fouled by Ream and for once, a penalty decision goes in our favour. It needs to be said however, that this is the second big talking point against Wolves in the match. The defender who pushed Hwang to concede the penalty had already been booked, and should have received a second yellow for this. The referee let him get away with it and Fulham remained with 11 men. Hwang who drew the penalty stepped up to smash it home to make the game 2-2.
7 minutes were given for added time but still plenty of time for more VAR controversy. First saw a Fulham attack react to Max Kilman on the touch line, he stood up and clearly moved his head and connected with Kilman’s nose. A clear red card but because Kilman didn’t roll around on the floor the referee (and VAR) allowed it to go unpunished.
So yet another decision goes against Wolves but it wasn’t to be the last as on 94 minutes Gomes was judged to have fouled a Fulham attacker in the box for another penalty. Although the ref didn’t give it, VAR deemed it a “clear and obvious” error to over turn the decision and give Fulham the chance to snatch all three points, which they did.
The final whistle finally came which saw Wolves lose in London and although it was not a good performance overall, the game was overshadowed by shocking officiating once again.
FINAL THOUGHTS...
With Dawon’s suspension, Bueno filled in and didn’t have a bad game. Him and Kilman stood strong and dealt with most things in the box. The biggest concern was the full-backs and poor tracking back. Time after time, they got overlapped or caught out of position to give Fulham the freedom to attack our box. Sa had a decent game, stopping a few good shots throughout the game, Hwang and Cunha did ‘ok’ and both took their goal well. Overall, a game which we should have got a point out of, but once again cheated out of something. Not our most energetic or fluid of performances and a worry when we have only taken 1 point in total from Luton, Fulham and Sheffield United. It’s great when we win at home against the big teams but we need to ‘up our game’ away from home against the so called ‘smaller clubs’.
ARTICLE BY NICK PARKES
Hi, I’m Nick! Born in Wolverhampton and currently living in Barcelona. I’ve been a Wolves fan since birth (dad’s choice) and was a north bank season ticket holder in my younger days. My favourite all-time player, Bully!
I’m an English teacher by trade and when I’m not scolding teenagers in the class, I’m either running, gardening or watching cricket!
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