Rodrigo Muniz scored a delightful chipped goal to give Fulham a 2-1 victory against Wolves at Molineux.
After failing to register a single shot on target in their defeat by Crystal Palace on Saturday, Fulham enjoyed a lightning start with Ryan Sessegnon sweeping past Jose Sa after just 59 seconds having being put through on goal by Andreas Pereira.
However, their lead did not last long as Joao Gomes, after missing a clear-cut chance moments earlier, blasted into the roof of the Fulham goal in the 18th minute.
In similar fashion to the first half, the visitors made an instant impact at the start of the second – restoring their lead 63 seconds after the break as Muniz sprinted on to Adama Traore’s threaded pass before dinking a clever chip over Sa.
“It’s three points that we waste,” said Wolves manager Vitor Pereira.
“It’s time to work, to correct the mistakes, to not sleep in the dressing room because I think we slept in the dressing room and we went into the game sleeping. This cannot happen again.”
Sa stopped Fulham substitute Raul Jimenez from adding a third against his former club, with the goalkeeper quick to react to the angled strike from the Mexico striker, who fired another opportunity wide moments later.
The result moves Fulham to ninth and boosts their hopes of European football next season as they sit just two points behind sixth-placed Newcastle.
Wolves, meanwhile, remain five points clear of the drop zone, although Ipswich and Leicester, placed 18th and 19th respectively, could narrow that gap to three points if they win their games in hand later this week.
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Fulham fly out of the blocks
Against Palace on Saturday, Fulham never got going.
Manager Marco Silva called it a “bad afternoon” and decided to switch things up for their trip to Wolverhampton, making five changes that included Jimenez and Alex Iwobi – the Cottagers’ top two scorers this season – drop to the bench.
It appeared an inspired change as Sessegnon, making his first Premier League start this season, darted into the Wolves’ box in the opening minute and slotted in his first league goal in over two years.
And it was the same story in the second half, with Muniz, who led the attack in place of Jimenez, breaking through the hosts’ defence to meet former Wolves forward Traore’s brilliant ball before finishing the move off with a sublime lift over Sa.
Silva’s changes looked all the more impressive as Jimenez missed two clear-cut chances to put the game to bed after replacing Muniz in the 72nd minute.
“It’s not easy to change five players from one game to another,” Silva said.
“The reality was we knew we needed some fresh players inside – we need fresh legs because it was going to be another game that demanded high energy.
“The players that we started the game with, they made an impact, they showed great quality and I am really pleased for them.”
Having secured impressive wins against Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest earlier this month, Fulham survived a late charge of Wolves attacks to pick up another three points and get their bid for European football back on track.
Wolves’ resurgence undone by slow starts
Having claimed a win over high-flying Bournemouth on Saturday and pushed leaders Liverpool close at Anfield the week before, Wolves seemed to be on the up.
However, new boss Pereira reminded his team earlier this week that they did not have enough of an advantage in the fight for survival to relax.
His message did not seem to have cut through as Wolves were caught off guard in the opening minute with their defence split by Pereira’s excellent through ball.
And they failed to learn their lesson as they found themselves trailing again thanks to a similar situation – though this time it was Traore coming back to haunt his former employers.
Looking to get back into the game for a second time, Wolves relied heavily on the in-form Matheus Cunha, who looked dangerous as he pushed his side forward in search for an equaliser.
But despite grabbing four goals in his past four games, the Brazil forward lacked the same clinical finishing seen in recent weeks, blazing two efforts over the bar.
