Fulham 3-2 Wolves: Willian’s contentious 94th-minute penalty ends Cottagers’ winless run after visitors had twice equalised with THREE spot-kicks scored

If decision do even out over the course of a season, Wolves will eventually be in for a glut of them going in their favour.

Another game and at least one, it not two, debatable penalties given against Gary O’Neil’s side.

And the end result was Wolves being left as the team feeling aggrieved after ending with less than what they perhaps deserved.

Against Manchester United, Luton, Newcastle and Sheffield United, Wolves found themselves on the wrong end of spot-kick calls.

The outcome, as O’Neil pointed out following three of those occasions, was the referee in question ended up being demoted to the Championship for their next game.

It will be all eyes on what happens next to Michael Salisbury after he was the latest official to risk the wrath of O’Neil.

Firstly he penalised Nelson Semedo for bringing down Tom Cairney even though the Wolves man appeared to win the ball first.

The long VAR check was an indication that the decision was far from a clear- cut one but the award stood and Willian scored to put Fulham 2-1 up.

Then, following a definite penalty of their own, which Hwang Hee-Chan lashed in to seemingly earn Wolves a point, Harry Wilson tumbled to the ground following a soft challenge from Joao Gomes and Salisbury gave a second penalty against Wolves.

This was in injury time and Willian buried it again. And on this occasion there was no time for another Wolves reply as Fulham celebrated a much-needed first win since the start of October.

They were booed off at half-time but the mood inside Craven Cottage at full-time was far different.

And certainly in stark contrast to O’Neil’s. He had a face like thunder as he walked off the pitch, almost pointedly blanking the officials as he walked them and headed for the tunnel.

Fulham’s previous lack of form – four games without a league win – was not obvious in how they begun the game.

Raul Jimenez almost made a dream start to his first meeting against his old club. Inside the first 40 seconds, Andreas Pereira found him unmarked with a low cross in the middle of the goal but Jimenez messed up his attempted back-heel.

Never mind. Alex Iwobi showed him how it was done not long after. Willian and Antonee Robinson combined down the left and Iwobi adjusted his body and feet impressively to divert Fulham’s opener through Jose Sa’s legs.

Sa’s goal was briefly under siege. Jimenez had saw attempt from a narrow angle kept out.

From the corner that followed the conclusion of that scare for Wolves, Tom Cairney’s thumping effort flew through a mass of bodies but not Sa’s as he stood firm.

It was not until the 14th minute that Wolves threatened for the first time. Mario Lemina pounced on a misplaced pass from Harrison Reed – in for the suspended Joao Palhinha – and sent Hwang Hee Chan instantly away.

His pace took him clear and his curling shot beat Bernd Leno but did not dip enough, clipping the bar on its way over.

Wolves were warming up and equalised with their next attack. It was a neat move they put together from back to front, working the ball out wide to Jean-Ricner Bellegarde.

He had looked like a potential source of joy in the opening stages and so it proved. He twisted and turned Robinson out before clipping the ball to the backpost where Matheus Cunha was waiting to head in. 

Wolves looked the more likely scorer of the games third goal. Matt Doherty, on for the injured Rayan Ait-Nouri, and Hwang failed to make the most of promising crossing positions. Iwobi and Timothy Castagne were also both forced into some desperate defending. Leno then had a let-off when he tried to overcomplicate dealing with a back pass but Fulham managed to scramble the ball clear.

The dangerous moments initially continued from the visitors with Castagne and Leno both pressed into last ditch action to keep Wolves at bay.

And then came the controversial penalty which WIllian converted after a lengthy delay while the decision was checked.

Given what Wolves had experienced before O’Neil’s frustration would have been obvious.

At least there was a penalty for Wolves to improve his mood. Calvin Bassey’s header went towards rather than away from his own goal.

Hwang was quickest to latch onto it and burst past Tim Ream who brought him own.

A much quicker check followed this time and Hwang rifled his penalty past Leno to draw Wolves level again.

Wolves pushed for a winner and Doherty burst into the box and caused panic but was thwarted by Leno.

But the final say ended up being had by Willian following more penalty frustration for Wolves.

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