Wolves v Fulham preview: Pass-masters go head to head at Molineux
A few teams have irked Nuno Espirito Santo this season, but the head coach’s respect for Fulham is very apparent.
The Cottagers, like Wolves, play attractive football on the floor – a philosophy Nuno of course approves of.
“Fulham is a good team, they were in the play-offs last season so it’s going to be a tough game for us,” he said ahead of tonight’s clash.
“I know that Fulham is a team that plays really good football and we must be focused and concentrated on that.
“At the same time we must put our ideas on the pitch.
“Each time you are able to control your opponent you are closer to winning.”
It’s been a busy week for Wolves who travelled to QPR on Saturday and Norwich on Tuesday.
Nuno says the players are bearing up – and praise hot-shot striker Leo Bonatini for his recent six goals in five games scoring streak.
“The players are good, they are well,” he said. “Everybody’s available so it’s good for us as coaches.
“Leo’s doing really well. I read somewhere he’s scored five in a row, the first Wolves player to do this for 13 years, so credit to him.
“But also credit to the team that is behind and still puts the ball in the right place for him to score.
“Besides that he’s doing a really good job.
“It’s good to go back to Molineux with a good atmosphere.
“Perform well is what we want to achieve. Do your tasks, be together in the same objective, a team is more than one performance.
“If you’re not doing well your team mate will be next to you to help you.
“It’s a big challenge for the boys to each game do better, but they belief in that.”
Romain Saiss is available again after suspension and Nuno must decided whether to recall him, or defenders Danny Batth and Roderick Miranda who missed out at Carrow Road.
As for Slavisa Jokanovic’s struggling Fulham, they’re looking to get their season on track. They’ve only won two of their past eight matches and sit 16th.
Jokanovic said: “We deserve the criticism around us and this is natural.
“Wolves have played very well.
“They are the top scoring team in the division with very offensive players that can find goals alone, they don’t need so many elements.
“After an important win against Norwich they will be motivated with confidence to push to win the match. We must be extra focused and concentrate. Where we have the chance to damage them we must be able, brave and clever.
“They are very dangerous on the counter-attack and they brought important players into the squad and show they want to be a Premier League team.
“At the moment they are going in a good way but we will see what happens with 31 games in front of us.
“We are 13 points behind Wolves, six points behind the play-off spots and have two points less than we had after 15 games last season, but there is a long period ahead of us."
Predicted line ups
Wolves (3-4-3): John Ruddy; Batth (c), Coady, Boly; Doherty, Neves, Saiss, Douglas; Cavaleiro, Bonatini, Jota. Subs: Norris, Bennett, Price, N'Diaye, Marshall, Costa, Enobakhare.
Fulham (3-5-2): Button; Odoi, Kalas, Ream; Fredericks, Johansen, McDonald, Cairney, Sessegnon; Ayite, Fonte.
Key players
Wolves – Ruben Neves: In what’s likely to be a pass-fest at Molineux can the 20-year-old playmaker come into his own and flourish against the Cottagers? Proved on Tuesday night he can do the dirty work too, showcasing an excellent work ethic and getting stuck into the Canaries.
Fulham – Kevin McDonald: Wolves know all about the strengths of Fulham’s playmaker. On his day the Scot can thread a pass through any defence . He’s played 62 times for the Cottagers since moving at the start of last season. McDonald and Tom Cairney Stefan Johansen are arguably three of the best midfielders in the Championship.
Memory lane
A Steve Bull hat-trick helped Wolves to a 5-2 victory over the Cottagers in their Division Three title-winning season of 1988/89.
Last five meetings
March 2017 (Ch): Fulham 1 (Odoi 54) Wolves 3 (Cavaleiro 34, Weimann 47, Edwards 72)
December 2016 (Ch): Wolves 4 (Hause 22, Doherty 65, Cavaleiro 74, Edwards 90+1) Fulham 4 (Johansen 32, Ayite 39 and 90+4, Cairney 42)
January 2016 (Ch): Wolves 3 (Zyro 6 and 13, Doherty 48) Fulham 2 (Christensen 24, McCormack 74)
September 2015 (Ch): Fulham 0 Wolves 3 (Le Fondre 56, Ojo 59, Henry 78)
February 2015 (Ch): Wolves 3 (Batth 10, Sako 40 and 45) Fulham 0
