Fulham 1 (Iwobi 21) Wolves 4 (Cunha 31, J Gomes 53, Cunha 87, Guedes 90+4)
A patched-up Wolves side produced their best performance of the season to dismantle Fulham on their travels and earn their first away win since February.
Despite defensive worries, Wolves were far too strong in a dominant second half showing on the banks of the River Thames, and after falling behind to Alex Iwobi’s effort, the visitors hit back before the break through Matheus Cunha.
Wolves were then outstanding after the break, to not only nullify Fulham at every opportunity, but also to get forward and find the back of the net. Joao Gomes doubled Wolves’ advantage with a neat finish, before Cunha’s stunning second gave Wolves daylight.
The Old Gold put earning their second win on the bounce beyond doubt in added time as Goncalo Guedes scored his fourth goal of the season in all competitions with a smart finish following a quick counter-attack against a tiring Cottagers defence.
Wearing their hyper violet third kit for the first time this season, Wolves started the opening 45 minutes brightly, but a change in defence following Santi Bueno and Craig Dawson’s absences, which saw Mario Lemina drop back to partner Toti in the middle of a back four led to some nervy early moments for the visitors.
Fulham were trying to exploit Wolves’ defensive frailties at set-pieces by lifting several corners into the box, which were mostly dealt with, apart from when former Old Gold striker Raul Jimenez managed to get highest in the area, but he could only divert his header wide of Jose Sa’s post.
The visitors were struggling to create danger in the final third, although Joao Gomes tested Bernd Leno with a long range shot after great footwork to get himself up the pitch and post a shot which the keeper was able to palm away.
Antonee Robinson was causing Wolves worries down the Fulham left, with one of his crosses finding Jimenez unmarked inside the six yard box, but the Mexican could only smash against the post, in what was a massive let off for his former club.
But it didn’t take long for Fulham to open the scoring as they pressed Wolves high up the pitch. Rodrigo Gomes – making his second Premier League start of the season – was dispossessed outside the box, and Kenny Tete played a short pass to Iwobi who curled an unstoppable shot into the top corner, leaving Sa stranded.
Just after the half hour mark, Wolves were level. It was route one football at its very best as Mario Lemina found Cunha over the top of the Fulham defence with a raking long ball, and after picking the ball out of the air with his first touch, his second was to lift the ball over Leno and into the net.
The hosts were appealing for a penalty just before the break when Robinson and Lemina came together in the box, but referee Robert Jones was pretty adamant there was no foul committed by the Wolves captain, ensuring the game was all square heading into the break.
Half-time | Fulham 1-1 Wolves
The second half could not have gone any better for Gary O’Neil’s side as they swept Fulham aside with a dominant display which hasn’t been seen by the Wolves supporters for a long time.
Less than 10 minutes into the half, Joao Gomes made it two to the visitors following neat one-touch passing by Wolves. Cunha got the ball inside and slipped a brilliant reverse pass to his fellow Brazilian who took a touch before firing a low shot across Leno and inside the far post.
Cunha was denied his second of the afternoon when he was played into the Fulham box, but surrounded by Fulham bodies, his shot was deflected behind by Calvin Bassey.
After five changes from Marco Silva in an attempt to get his side back into the game, they almost paid off as Harry Wilson struck the bar, before pulling a decent save off Sa, but Wolves were the ones who pulled further ahead.
Fulham ended up down to 10 men when Joachim Andersen went off injured with 10 minutes left to play, and Wolves took advantage.
Joao Gomes and Cunha were pressing the life out of the Fulham defence and after a mistake, Gomes claimed an assist when he laid the ball to the forward and Cunha curled an unbelievable effort into the top corner.
As O’Neil shored up his already tight defence – which saw Lemina shine at centre-back – Fulham tried to get a consolation, but it left gaps in their backline which the visitors exploited.
One of O’Neil’s substitutes, Guedes, was found in a four vs two situation in attack, with Strand Larsen slipping the ball across to the Portuguese who diverted a low drive into the bottom corner of the net for his first Premier League goal of the season.
A final change of the afternoon saw Alfie Pond come on for his Premier League debut as Wolves capped off a stunning display with their first away win of the season, to make it four games unbeaten.
Full-time | Fulham 1-4 Wolves
Fulham | Leno, Tete (Castagne 71), Bassey, Andersen, Robinson, Lukic, Pereira (Cairney 59), Iwobi, Smith Rowe (Wilson 59), Nelson (Traore 71), Jimenez (Muniz 71).
Unused subs | Benda, Diop, Sessegnon, King.
Wolves | Sa, Semedo (Pond 90+7), Lemina, Toti, Ait-Nouri, Andre, J. Gomes (Doyle 90+1), Bellegarde (Doherty 87), R. Gomes (Guedes 90+1), Cunha (Hwang 90+1), Strand Larsen.
Unused subs | Bentley, Cundle, Forbs, Edozie.
Referee | Robert Jones
