Wolves Fans' Verdict v Fulham: What a winner!

Clive Smith

The highs and lows of football, eh? At half-time it was easy to hate everything about the game. Angry with yourself for letting it matter so much.

Angry with the way we had played and most of all, angry with VAR. Not only disallowing the goal but eroding the fabric of the game yet again.

Powerless to put it right, wanting to hug Jose but also wishing you had not seen it happen in the first place. It was the same with Neto at Anfield two years ago, his first goal, the joy, the ecstasy, the disbelief, the anger, the resentment. Two years, how far has VAR come in that time? We all know the answer to that.

The game was poor with both teams looking scared and stressed from the first minute to the last. Nobody looked like they were enjoying it, and I imagine that was true for all of us watching it on TV too.

Neto's injury resulted in Nuno reverting to Plan A. It would be predictable to say we looked more comfortable but passing between Coady, Saiss and Semedo at least looked less hurried. It was amazing to see our passing accuracy at half time was 83 per cent, it did not feel like that, as we struggled to find a forward unless he had his back to goal. Possession in the final third was at a premium.

Throughout the first half we did not look likely to score, with all our set pieces being poor, whereas the only Fulham threat was likely to come from a header. Then came that Jose moment which will grate for quite a while.

If anything, after the break, the game deteriorated even more. Life had been sucked out of us as Podence, Jose and Traore faded out the game. To be fair, we defended well. MOTM Coady and Saiss were solid, Dendoncker looked more comfortable than on Monday. Neves put in a hell of a shift in midfield, a lot of it was not pretty, but his work-rate was admirable. Moutinho was tidy too and brought a calmer feel about things.

Saiss failed to hit the target with a free-kick which appeared to be our best chance of a goal. As time ticked on, Silva replaced Jose but it was hard not to think the inevitable cross into our box would result in a header and defeat.

But no, a different script had to be written. The assist we know Traore has in his locker was seen against West Ham. Here his shooting power was displayed to clinch the game late on. A stunning shot from a ridiculous angle.

I just wish I'd been in the away end, a few yards from that strike, going ballistic with everyone within ten yards, screaming my head off until Nuno finally came across with a trio of fist pumps. Leaving the ground with a smile as wide as the Thames and not caring how long it took to drive home. Three points, tick. Away win, tick. Traore goal, tick. For those of a nervous disposition – staying up, tick.

Adam Virgo

A much-needed win and what a way to win it, just a shame the away end wasn’t full as the limbs would have been incredible.

Full credit to Gibbs-White, Silva and Adama who were all integral to the winning goal. It was a fantastic strike, hit with so much power which caught Areola off-guard. Nice little spin from Gibbs-White to start things off and then a beautiful pass from Silva who’s certainly proving his worth at the moment.

It wasn’t a great performance but the team are clearly devoid of any sort of confidence at the moment. It doesn’t help either when you go into half time 0-0 when in reality we should have been 1-0 up if it wasn’t for ridiculous rules and those in charge of VAR.

Losing Neto to injury early on didn’t help anything either, we switched from a back four to a five which meant the whole shape and set-up changed. I know it’s something we are used to but in possession we’re much better in a four.

The goal that was ruled out was a sign of what we can do. Fantastic goal, some brilliant link-up, Jose bagging his first for us and it gets ruled out because a millimetre of Podence’s sleeve is classed as offside. Football is finished if we’re going to keep giving offsides for things like that.

The backline all did well which deserves a lot of credit after what happened on Monday night. Semedo was excellent, Ait-Nouri looked a lot more assured and Coady/Saiss/Dendoncker all did what they needed. Mitrovic didn’t really get a sniff all game which was great to see.

We’re practically safe from any sort of relegation threat now you’d imagine but our next four are all winnable, so it would be nice to go on a good little run to try and shed some light on this season. I hope we at least attempt to get a mid-table finish which wouldn’t be that bad considering everything that’s happened this season.

Rob Cartwright

This was a thoroughly deserved away victory. It would have been a great night out if fans had been allowed to attend traditionally one of the best away days.

Two brilliant team goals, expertly executed, and a big dose of VAR controversy with probably the smallest ever margin for offside, which took two minutes to decide on.

I was surprised to see the same starting eleven, but Wolves started well and didn’t let Fulham dictate the pace of the game or possession. We really could do without more injuries, so when Neto went off after half an hour I feared the worst. This caused a tactical switch to five at the back.

Fulham took the opportunity to get on top, though goal chances were few for both teams. Fulham had gone closest to scoring as half-time approached. What appeared to be a fabulous move and goal was wiped out by VAR. David Coote took an age to find a way. Podence’s finger nails need cutting! Jose was denied his first goal.

I didn’t like the reaction by the Fulham management team. Karma was to prevail.

The second half was awful. The word dull describes it perfectly.

Wolves continued to press, but were severely lacking in confidence. The two subs made with 15 minutes to do had a positive impact. Gibbs-White and Silva provided a little more impetus to get forward.

All three substitutes were involved in the final move of the game. Moutinho collected the ball on edge of our box and played to Gibbs-White. He was fouled, but turned and threaded the ball to Silva. He played a perfectly weighted ball through to Traore who ran the length of the Fulham half. Now at this point we all expected it to go behind for a goal kick; but not this time. He literally smashed the ball past the keeper who could hardly have seen it.

A goal worthy of winning any game. Karma for Mr Parker!

Man of the match for me was either Semedo who had his work cut out defensively, or Traore. I’m going with Traore for the impact of his match-winning goal.

John Lalley

The result effectively ensures that Wolves will be competing in the Premier League next season but this game left us with little else to enthuse about. It was a dire encounter between two teams lacking poise and quality.

Misplaced passes abounded, the delivery into the penalty boxes was uniformly awful and both dysfunctional outfits appeared incapable of any semblance of creativity. At the absolute death, substitutes Gibbs-White and Fabio combined cleverly to set up a previously infuriatingly innocuous Traore for a glorious finish.

Apart from the delightful goal hideously ruled out by a ghastly VAR verdict, we hadn’t threatened the Fulham backline. You can only sympathise with Jose; robbed of an authentic first goal after barren weeks of struggle. He is fast becoming the reincarnation of Leon Clarke who couldn’t find the net during his second spell at Wolves until a fabulous finish at Swindon assuaged his embarrassment.

Willian must be absolutely fuming; if that’s the law, then the law really is an ass. This stupidity is ruining the game and if football really is craving the return of spectators, then finding obtuse reasons to minimise their enjoyment is bordering on the insane.

For this reason alone, Traore’s winner was poetic justice regardless of how ordinary our overall performance may have been. Neto’s early injury necessitated a reshuffle and returning to three at the back immediately found us better organised and decidedly harder to break down.

Fulham became increasingly dismal in the final third and Patricio had his least stressful ninety minutes for some time. For Nuno, the conundrum of how the team is set up to be more positive remains. All season, especially since we lost Jimenez, we have seemed unsure just what our structural priorities are.

This uncertainty has contributed markedly to a frustrating season that regardless of this result cannot end soon enough. We’re safe; significant decisions and some fundamental changes should now be occupying minds at Molineux.

Russ Evers

A major difference in issues at the end of each half that shows the huge difference between the rights and wrongs of our once glorious game.

After a cautious first half, our best move saw Jose bullying a header into the net from a clever piece of work from Podence but the unfathomable rules caused a VAR referral, and Podence's underarm hair was shown to be interfering with play.

Yet in the final minute of the game the referee Jon Moss played on as we had the advantage and a wonderful ball from Silva was met with an even better shot from Traore, who up until then looked a frustrated soul.

The match will not live long in the memory but the VAR decision will and it is slowly but surely killing the game. VAR must go and go quickly – when I find myself agreeing with Glenn Hoddle then I know something is up.

Can't remember ever winning at Fulham other than a mad 5-1 win in the League Cup a few decades ago so accepted gladly, but the passion which is so vital is being taken away by faceless people working with ridiculous rules.