Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
WHAT A SORRY SIGHT
Premier League table is horrible viewing for Fulham fans
THERE is unlikely to be a need for Tony
Khan to apologise to Fulham fans this week – but his side are looking very sorry for themselves right now.
The Cottagers, always expected to struggle in the top flight, are rock bottom with a grand total of zero points.
But a f t er c on c e di n g three, four and three in their first three matches back in the top flight, conceding just one yesterday was a marked improvement for Scott Parker’s side.
That came in the second half as star man Pedro Neto rifled home a winning goal that Wo l v e s just about deserved.
Khan upset Parker (ab ov e) by publicly apologising to Fulham fans after the 3-0 home defeat by Aston Villa last week, with the defence getting both barrels. This was a much better day. But it still ended in defeat. Wolves were reeling from a 4-0 loss at West Ham so a home fixture against Fulham was jut what the doctor ordered.
And in Portuguese magician Neto they had the man with the perfect prescription for points.
Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo has struggled to galvanise his side following the departures of Diogo Jota and Matt Doherty to
Liverpool and Tottenham respectively. Those two supplied 23 goals last term.
Yesterday Wolves struggled to break down a Fulham side that looked determined to silence critics who had mocked their defensive vulnerability.
Neto, the man most likely, was denied early on by Fulham keeper Alphonse Areola , who also foiled Nelson Semedo on the rebound.
The first 45 minutes were otherwise instantly forgettable. The game brightened after the break, but not by much.
Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic shot wide on the turn from Antonee Robinson’s cross when he perhaps should have done better.
At the other end Ruben Neves went close with a shot that f lashed narrowly wide from di stance as Wolves started to push.
They should have broken the deadlock on 55 minutes but Mexican striker Raul Jimenez failed to beat Areola in a oneon-one. But within seconds Neto drilled in from the edge of the area (left) after the Fulham defence failed to clear a Leander Dendoncker shot.
Wolves pushed for a second with Semedo seeing a left-footed effort go just wide but this wasn’t the Wolves we saw last term.
Ivan Cavaleiro, Bobby Decordova-reid and Mitrov ic al l di sapp oint ed in attack for Fulham.
But subs Neeskens Kebano, Aboubakar Kamara and debutant Ademola Lookman all impressed late on as Fulham searched for an equaliser.
On the break, Mitrovic set up Kamara whose tame effort was held by Rui Patricio. Kebano then hit the side-netting before missing a golden opportunity from Mitrovic’s flick.
With games at Sheffield United and at home to Crystal Palace and West Brom immediately after the international break, it’s a huge month for Fulham. Those are games they need to win. But the concern for manager Parker is that confidence is already on the floor.