Wolves 2 Fulham 0 – Report and pictures

Romain Saiss opened the scoring in the ninth minute when he headed home a Barry Douglas corner.

And Douglas was the provider for the second goal before half time when Bonatini glanced home his free kick to score for a sixth consecutive league game.

Bonatini and Jota spurned chances as Wolves dominated the second half without adding to their lead.

Analysis

Wolves last won a Championship match in November back in 2008.

You knew that run wouldn't last long under Nuno Espirito Santo though, writes Wolves correspondent Tim Spiers at Molineux.

They ended a run of 19 matches (12 defeats and seven draws) without a November victory at this level – and did so with impressive ease.

Perhaps we should rename this Nuvember, because on this form the rest of the month won't be a problem either.

This was supposed to be a pass-fest against two teams that love to play it on the floor, so it was ironic was Wolves' two goals came from set pieces.

Romain Saiss and man of the moment Leo Bonatini were the beneficiaries of whipped deliveries from the trusty left boot of Barry Douglas in what was otherwise a fairly unremarkable encounter.

Wolves played on autopilot for long spells in what was for the first hour a notable drop down from the dominant display they produced at Norwich on Tuesday.

Then with Fulham offering a minimal threat they ramped it up for a sumptuous 20-minute spell which had Molineux purring.

But ultimately all that mattered was they registered their fifth win in six games and extended their lead at the top of the Championship to four points ahead of the weekend's fixtures.

We knew there'd be goals – there had been 29 in the previous six meetings between the two teams – and two was enough for Nuno's men who went into the international break on a high.

They've already accrued 35 points from just 16 matches. Wolves were on 35 points from 33 matches in 2016/17...yet another indicator of just how different things are in WV1 this season.

In front of the television cameras this sent out a message for the watching nation – 'catch us if you can'. They're going to take some stopping.

Match report

Nuno made one change from the team that beat Norwich City 2-0 on Tuesday, with the suspension-free Romain Saiss replacing Alfred N'Diaye who dropped to the bench.

Former Wolves midfielder Kevin McDonald captain Fulham on his return to Molineux as the Cottagers looked to improve on a poor run of recent form that had left them rooted in mid-table.

However it was table-toppers Wolves who took the game to the visitors from the off, starting like a train in the first five minutes, hunting the opposition in packs and racing forward at speed.

And after Ruben Neves sent a 35-yarder not far wide they took the lead in the nine minute when an inswinging Barry Douglas corner was met by Saiss at the near post and he beat David Button with a fine header.

It was poor defending from the visitors but Saiss took the goal well – his second for the club.

Fulham had a plan to try and quell Wolves threat from the flanks, with wingers Neeskens Kebano and Floyd Ayite constantly tracking wing backs Barry Douglas and Matt Doherty to make their defence a back six.

And for the most part it worked – aside from a Diogo Jota shot which flashed across the face of goal Wolves created nothing from open play. Indeed the visitors should have levelled when John Ruddy allowed a free kick to slip through his fingers and, of all people, McDonald horribly misjudged a lob which ballooned over with an open goal at his mercy.

And when Wolves made them pay it was from yet another set piece – the fourth goal in a row (including the two at Norwich) they netted via a Douglas free kick or corner.

This time it was a free kick from the right flank and Leo Bonatini glanced home at the near post for his seventh goal in six consecutive league games – and his 10th of an increasingly remarkable start to the season, making him the league's top scorer.

Thereafter the whole thing went a little flat, both on and off the field, with Nuno visibly frustrated at his team's performance which wasn't a patch on what they'd produced at Carrow Road. They were coasting, though,

The teams exchanged changes at the start of the second half with Bonatini stabbing wide after a gorgeous Ivan Cavaleiro flick and then Ayite firing past the post from a good position for Fulham.

Then Wolves took total control of the match as they moved through the gears with what was occasionally spellbinding football.

Chances fell to Cavaleiro, who flashed one wide, Bonatini, whose header was brilliantly saved and Jota, who had a goalbound effort blocked by Ryan Fredericks.

The Molineux crowd lapped it up and sang Nuno's name almost throughout a day after the boss reaffirmed his commitment to the club amid links with the vacant Everton job.

Bonatini went close again, this time with a great effort from a diving header from Matt Doherty's cross.

And then the final 10 minutes were a procession as Wolves saw the win through with ease in what was another impressive display of their promotion credentials.

Key moments

9 – GOAL – Barry Douglas swings a corner to the near post where ROMAIN SAISS has made a great run and heads home.

16 – John Ruddy lets an free kick slip through his fingers and Kevin McDonald balloons a lob over the bar with the goal at his mercy.

26 – GOAL – Douglas again is the creator with a whipped free kick from the left – this time LEO BONATINI meets it and beats the keeper with a glancing header.

66 – Bonatini is denied by a superb Button save from another corner.

Line ups

Wolves (3-4-3): John Ruddy; Bennett, Coady (c), Boly (N'Diaye, 79); Doherty, Neves, Saiss; Douglas; Cavaleiro (Enobakhare, 75), Bonatini (Marshall, 87), Jota. Subs not used: Norris, Batth, Vinagre, Costa.

Goals: Saiss (9), Bonatini (26)

Fulham (4-5-1): Button; Fredericks, Odoi, Ream Sessgnon, Kebano (Mollo, 53), Norwood, McDonald, Johansen, Ayite (Soares, 63); Fonte (Kamara, 70). Subs not used: Bettinelli, Kalas, Edun, Cisse.

Attendance: 24,388

Referee: David Coote (Nottinghamshire)

Position in table

1st (35 points from 16 matches)