Fulham at Wolves

A month ago (or maybe a month and a half) this would have been a certain loss. As Hatter noted elsewhere, Wolverhampton have done what we had reasonably hoped to do this season: solidify our position in the Premiership while putting in enough decent performances to finish top ten.
They’re seventh (I think), and have done just that. But our form is No. 19 with a bullet, and we’ve got a hot goalkeeper. There’s no reason we can’t win out and get Scott Parker the opportunity to lead us back to promotion next season. Mitrovic is on the brink of a HUGE goal fest, and I can see it happening at Molineux.

 

Have to pick Wolves since a place in the Europa is at stake for them, but I can see a 3-2 type match, and if Mitro does the bounce back a draw or away victory wouldn’t be a surprise.

 

I agree with you Joe that is the likely outcome, but a victory on Saturday would be quite a statement. Going on the road to beat a top-half team with a lot to play for? That would get Parker the job for sure.

Sad Fact: The top 12 teams have all beaten Fulham by at least two goals when the Whites came to visit and Fulham never scored more than one goal in a game. Total goals For/Against vs. the top 12 on the road is 33 to 5. With those stats even losing 3-2 would feel like a big improvement.

 

Normally I would agree with right honourable gentlemen's assessment of the outcome. But we won a road game at Bournemouth last time away, and something funny happens when you finally do that. Confidence to do it again. I know, Wolves ain't Bournemouth, but we did split with them last season, winning at the Cottage after acquiring Mitro. And, we also managed a draw on Boxing Day at home with Ranieri in charge, so I think the lads will fancy a W for the trip to the West Midlands. I'm feeling even more confident that we can win out to make a small uptick from this hideous season.

 

This one is on NBCSN, not Gold.

No matter the outcome, I'm expecting an exciting match. Should be plenty of action for both sides.

 

If it ain't broke don't fix it - except Denis Odoi. Le Marchand broke his head last week and it still needs fixin'. Christie takes his place in the starting XI:

Rico
Christie, Le Marchand, Ream, Bryan
Anguissa, Chambers, Cairney
Babel, Mitrovic, Sessegnon

Subs: Fabri, Mawson, S. Sessegnon, Nordveit, Elliott, Kebano, Ayite

 

Well not certainly not the excitement I was expecting from Fulham. 61% possession, but only 4 chances created.

If Jota wasn't slightly off, he would have easily had a hat trick in a blowout win for Wolves.

Not sure what to take from this match though in the end.

 

It seems that Fulham took a step back on defense this week and started giving the ball up easily in their own half. I'm not sure why, but they started doing these weak passes again without being aware of their surroundings. The ball gets stolen and bad things happen. And after a few weeks of thinking "Maybe Anguissa didn't deserve my earlier criticisms" I'm back to "Nah, he's the laziest person on the pitch."

 

Definitely took a step backwards defensively, but still gave ourselves a chance at a result. On a normal day Mitro buries that cross from Sess. I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again...time of possession is the most overrated statistic in this game. Really thought we had a chance to win out, but at least Warnock’s team got it’s just rewards...and we HAY-ULLPED!

 

Suppose it's churlish to complain about a loss when we're relegated and Wolves are on their way to Europe, but I was a bit disappointed with Mitro here. He's been in a rut lately, and Saturday was probably one of his worst matches of the season. Cairney also didn't have a particularly notable match, and I'd argue is the main one at fault for Wolves goal. He didn't track back, resulting in Chambers having to cover 3 players (which meant he covered none) in the middle as Dendoncker's knocked the volley into the goal. Oh well.