Fulham 3- Wolverhampton Wanderers
Two wins in four days – perhaps Fulham should have saved the smoky pyrotechnics till after the final whistle of Saturday afternoon's match.
The 3-0 home victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers signalled the end of a depressing sequence of defeats in the League and moved the Whites to a more respectable position in the table. Their opponents remained at the bottom with just two points from ten games.
Some Fulham fans have been grumpy of late, but they will have been encouraged by the return of Joachim Andersen and Harry Wilson to the starting eleven and Rodrigo Muniz to the bench. In the early stages with both teams striving for the opening goal
Bernd Leno was soon in action saving one simple shot then clearing a corner. At the other end after Kevin was blocked by Hugo Bueno Fulham grabbed a 9th minute lead when Bueno and Emmanuel Agbadour muffed their chance to intercept Calvin Bassey's pass to Raul Jimenez.
The Mexican fed Ryan Sessegnon, who surged forward unimpeded to put Fulham ahead. Wilson should have doubled the lead soon after and the Midlanders' defence just about coped with efforts from Kevin, Kenny Tete and Wilson, who was certainly finding his range.
In the 36th minute the enterprising Josh King was fouled by Agbadour as he bore down on goal. Referee John Brooks reached immediately for a red card though it took Andy Madley's VAR team some time to confirm the award. Two questions needed answering. Had Josh handled the ball before the incident and was the foul a denial of an opportunity to score? Eventually VAR concurred with Mr Brooks and the Wolves player headed for the dressing room.
Ironically the previous Wednesday, Wycombe had wanted Josh to be dismissed for a similar foul but in that instance the victim had been much further from goal.
In effect the match was over though Wolves had a couple of chances that might have produced an equaliser. Mr Brooks dismissed calls for a penalty when the ball struck Kenny Tete's arm and just before the interval there was no-one to convert Ki-Jana Hoever's perceptive cross.
For the second half Vitor Pereira sent on three substitutes including Yerson Mosquera but Fulham dominated with Kenny Tete making three attempts at goal, one of which produced an outstanding save by Sam Johnstone. Harry Wilson also found the keeper in top form but in the 62nd minute after Sander Berge was blocked the Welshman produced one of his specials to put Fulham further ahead. Twelve minutes later Mosquera was booked for dissent and almost immediately the same player miskicked Sessegnon's cross to give Fulham their third own goal this season.
The visiting fans, understandably disappointed, joined in ironic applause when Wolves enjoyed the briefest spell of possession and they warned the manager of his imminent dismissal. Sadly for Mr Pereira the cliché came true and he was sacked in the morning.
Saturday afternoon had begun with a moving rendition of 'The Last Post', because the next home match takes place long after Armistice Day. At half-time there was a special award for David Lloyd, whose magazine There's Only One F in Fulham helped us through the gloomiest periods of the club's history.
The only false note came when the PA not unreasonably reminded spectators that smoking was forbidden at the Cottage. That motivated some misguided souls at the Hammersmith End to sing 'Stand Up If You Love Fulham'. Surely the logical chant if you're really feeling rebellious would be 'Light Up If You Love Fulham'. That notion would soon discourage any visiting vapers.
The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and unless specifically stated are not necessarily those of Hammersmith & Fulham Council.
