Douglas is so deadly as Wolves pick off Fulham

NEVER underestimate the value of a dead-ball specialist, especially when he has a wicked left foot like Barry Douglas.

Wolves can thank Douglas for the two set-pieces that delivered two first-half goals on a night when Fulham attempted to out-football the Championship leaders.

Romain Saiss headed the home side into an early lead courtesy of a Douglas corner. Then, with Fulham threatening a comeback, Leo Bonatini nodded Douglas’s free kick past David Button for his 10th goal of the campaign.

Bonatini is the Championship’s hottest scorer, a Brazilian gem discovered in that footballing heartland of Saudi Arabia.

Al-Hilal’s loss has certainly been Wolves’ gain with the 23-year-old involved in virtually every goal netted at Molineux.

His success sums up how everything has been going to plan for head coach Nuno Espirito Santo since his arrival in the summer. So much so that Everton could not resist a quiet enquiry about the Portuguese’s availability as successor to Ronald Koeman.

The Molineux manager’s response was to put a wolf emoji on a tweet. Cue huge sighs of relief from the supporters who are convinced that the Premier League is a guaranteed destination with Santo in the driving seat.

It is unlikely to be that simple. Promotion rivals Sheffield United and Cardiff have both beaten Wolves this season, for instance. And only last weekend, QPR delivered defeat No 3.

Fulham also set the home side a stern examination. Slavisa Jokanovic’s team started the night in 16th on 19 points and looking for their first win in five games, yet they asked questions of Wolves.

Wanderers goalkeeper John Ruddy looked less than confident in his handling and had a let- off when he fumbled Ryan Sessegnon’s free kick, only for Molineux old boy Kevin McDonald to send the loose ball skywards.

It was Sessegnon’s indiscipline which led to the second goal. The Fulham defender fouled Ivan Cavaleiro and was booked for his trouble.

For all the pretty pictures on the pitch, Fulham’s tactic of shooting from long range played into Wolves hands. Floyd Ayite and Oliver Norwood sent efforts well wide while Wolves just looked for opportunities to break.

Bonatini was not far from connecting with a Cavaleiro chip and then that man Douglas stepped up to whip in another corner which Bonatini steered just wide.