Wolves 2 - Fulham 1

Last updated : 21 February 2004 By FootyMad
Sadly Fulham have not been able to show the same kind of form since the departure of Luis Saha and this was demonstrated by another below par performance, despite a desperate late bid to snatch a point.

Even at the outset Wolves were the more determined and this was reflected in the Molineux men dictating the first half.

They were obviously intent on rectifying the situation and, with Paul Ince and Alex Rae their driving forces, the Midland club were able to give one of their better performances.

Rae was to the fore as early as the fifth minute when he picked up a Kenny Miller pass to force Edwin van der Sar to make the first of several good saves.

It was the foresight of Rae that opened up the Fulham defence in the 20th minute and led to the opening goal.

A long ball from Mark Clyde was pushed back by Rae into the path of Ince to hammer a low shot into the far corner of the net, for only his second goal of the season.

Wolves were foiled by another superb save from van der Sar when Miller was put clear by Carl Cort. The Scot attempted to guide the ball to the left of the Fulham keeper who pushed the shot out for a corner.

Most of the Cottagers' danger came from close-range attempts from Ian Pearce but his final efforts lacked power or direction.

Any hopes of Fulham getting back into the game seemingly disappeared six minutes into the second half when Wolves capitalised upon a bad defensive error.

Van der Sar played the ball out to Carlos Bocanegra but his clearance was charged down by Henri Camara into the path of Cort, who gleefully notched his first goal for the club.

Fulham were fortunate not to concede another in the 70th minute when Ince smashed a shot against the crossbar and then watched his header saved on the line by van der Sar.

The hard working Sean Davis wasted Fulham's best chance when he aimlessly blasted over the bar from a Steed Malbranque pass.

Shortly afterwards the Frenchman put Fulham back into the game when a Luis Boa Morte shot was blocked and he fired home the rebound in the 83rd minute.

Wolves: Jones, Naylor, Butler, Craddock, Clyde, Kennedy, Rae, Ince, Camara, Cort (Cameron 90), Miller (Ganea 78).
Subs Not Used: Oakes, Iversen, Luzhny.

Booked: Ince.

Fulham: Van der Sar, Bocanegra, Knight (Djetou 74), Pearce, Volz, Boa Morte, Sean Davis, Legwinski, Malbranque, Hayles (Petta 67), McBride.
Subs Not Used: Crossley, Inamoto, Green.

Attendance: 28,424

Referee: H Webb (S Yorkshire)