Fulham 3 – 2 Wolves

Willian’s stoppage-time penalty grabbed a much-needed three factors for Fulham in a dramatic 3-2 victory over Wolves on Monday Evening Soccer – however visiting boss Gary O’Neil was left perplexed by a string of choices and met with officers after the sport.

O’Neil’s Wolves have been on the unsuitable finish of a lot of debated VAR calls this season and have now misplaced every of their final two away video games to controversial last-gasp spot-kicks.

Sky Sports activities’ Jamie Carragher referred to as the most recent one “harsh”, after Joao Gomes tripped Harry Wilson. It took an extended VAR examine to verify the choice after referee Michael Salisbury had initially turned the appeals down – however there was clear contact on the Welshman.

The choice for that incident, although, was one in every of many complaints O’Neil took up with the officers.

Willian had already crushed Jose Sa with a penalty at first of the half when Nelson Semedo was judged to have caught Tom Cairney – a choice Carragher mentioned was worse. In response to O’Neil, ref Salisbury later mentioned he would have amended his resolution to award the penalty had he been despatched to the display by VAR.

However for the second time within the match Fulham blew their benefit, with Hee-Chan Hwang scoring a penalty of his personal after Tim Ream’s clumsy problem. Nonetheless, there was no second yellow for the centre-back.

O’Neil was additionally miffed that Carlos Vinicius was booked however not despatched off when he pushed his head into Max Kilman’s nostril earlier than Willian’s winner. He says the officers later admitted to him they acquired that decision unsuitable too.

Earlier within the evening, Alex Iwobi had given the hosts a quick begin in west London however, after Hwang had hit the bar, Matheus Cunha capitalised on some positive play from Jean-Ricner Bellegarde to go in an equaliser and Fulham’s uncertainty at each ends of the pitch was plain to see.

However a primary win over Wolves within the Premier League at Craven Cottage since 2012 was finally secured. Fulham could have been lacking key defensive midfielder Joao Palhinha however Cairney and the standout Iwobi gave them chunk and craft within the centre of the park.

There was drama proper till the tip, with a late, late handball penalty shout towards Harrison Reed ignored earlier than a strike from Hwang caught the roof of the online. However Fulham discovered a method to recover from the road. Wolves will see the end result otherwise.

Fulham boss Marco Silva pumped his fists with delight and a great deal of aid on the finish of all of it. His facet had didn’t win any of their final 4 and misplaced their final two however now transfer as much as 14th, stage with Wolves on 15 factors.

O’Neil reveals post-match debate with officers: Ref mentioned first Fulham pen was incorrect

“We mentioned numerous selections,” O’Neil instructed Sky Sports activities when requested about his assembly with Salisbury. “Vinicius ought to have been despatched off for headbutting Max. It’s clear. He headbutts him on the nostril however he’s given a yellow.

“Ream ought to have been despatched off for a second bookable offence on our penalty.

“Nelson [Semedo] performs the ball and doesn’t contact Cairney. I’ve watched it again with the referee and to be truthful he says he thinks they acquired it unsuitable and he ought to have been despatched to the monitor.

“The one on Wilson, we disagree on a little bit bit. He thinks there’s sufficient contact there to present a penalty. I feel it’s actually delicate.

“You possibly can argue that two of them may go towards us however all 4 go towards us. It’s a troublesome one for the lads, supporters and myself to take. We’ve been right here loads this season. We didn’t deserve that.”

Carra on the Fulham penalties: Extraordinarily harsh and harsh

Sky Sports activities’ Jamie Carragher on Fulham’s first penalty:

“I feel it’s extraordinarily harsh. We talk about wanting the on-field referees to make the choice. There’s little doubt Semedo will get one thing on the ball. He stands on his large toe.

“You possibly can take a look at plenty of totally different angles. I feel it’s harsh. I’m not a large fan of VAR slowing issues down. We’re speaking a few toe. After the ref has given the choice, VAR have gotten an issue as a result of we’re within the territory of ‘clear and apparent’.

“This phrase ‘clear and apparent’ is a gray space. Completely different folks have totally different opinions – how far does it should go earlier than it’s a howler?”

Sky Sports activities’ Jamie Carragher on VAR serving to to present Fulham’s second penalty:

“Once more, it’s harsh. The referee has acquired an excellent place, sees it and shakes his head right away.

“Whenever you sluggish it down it seems to be worse. Whenever you watch at full pace, just like the ref did from 5 or 6 yards away, it’s harsh.

“I feel it’s extra of a penalty than the primary one – however the issue for me is, after the ref doesn’t give it on subject, the choice shouldn’t be overturned. That’s my feeling.

“I don’t suppose it’s a penalty. The ref has an excellent view. VAR thinks that’s a transparent and apparent error. I don’t see it.”

Silva: Damage-time penalty clear, the opposite two delicate

Fulham supervisor Marco Silva chatting with Sky Sports activities:

“The second is a transparent penalty. The primary for us and the one for them had been a little bit extra delicate.”

How a dramatic evening on the Cottage unfolded…

Wolves had scored and conceded in every of their final 10 matches going into this one and whereas it wasn’t a fixture which instantly screamed targets, that streak had been prolonged inside 22 minutes on the banks of the Thames.

Fulham made a mockery of their current struggles in entrance of objective with an excellent opener. Willian rolled Antonee Robinson in down the road and the full-back’s low cross was gleefully turned dwelling by Iwobi, who was revelling in his extra superior function. It was his first objective of the season however fourth in 9 matches towards his favorite opponents Wolves.

With Fulham’s tails up and Iwobi creating one other harmful second virtually immediately from the restart, Wolves had been inches away with a pointy response when Hwang cracked an effort towards the bar on the counter. The equaliser wasn’t lengthy coming.

Bellegarde turned Robinson inside out earlier than standing the ball up on the again submit for Cunha to energy in his third of the marketing campaign.

Fulham’s insecurity at each ends of the pitch was on present when Willian hesitated and missed the prospect to transform from Iwobi’s deep cross later within the half and the hosts had been quickly scrambling in their very own field when Toti drilled the ball into the hazard zone. There was then virtually a calamity when Bernd Leno misplaced the ball as he tried to play out beneath stress from Mario Lemina.

Timothy Castagne needed to produce a sensational piece of defending to forestall sub Matt Doherty from handing over on the close to submit from Hwang’s cross at first of the second half – and it proved a decisive second, with Fulham successful their first penalty simply three minutes later.

Throughout the lengthy VAR examine it grew to become obvious Semedo had acquired a foot on the ball however his subsequent contact with Cairney was upheld as a foul and Willian coolly despatched Jose Sa the unsuitable method to put Fulham again in entrance.

That objective breathed confidence into Fulham and Iwobi pressured a superb cease from Sa as they pressed forwards – however as soon as once more they gave up their benefit. Ream’s clumsy problem on Hwang was deemed to have occurred simply contained in the field by ref Salisbury after which VAR, and the in-form Wolves ahead thumped dwelling the spot-kick for his seventh of his spectacular season. Nonetheless, no second yellow card for the defender materialised.

The drama was removed from over, although, when Wilson tumbled within the remaining minute of regular time. It would carry again recollections of Fabio Silva’s injury-time foul on George Baldock at Sheffield United for Wolves followers. It was the fifth penalty Wolves have conceded this season and Willian made certain it was punished once more, powering previous Sa, who guessed proper this time.

There was menace of one other late twist, when the ball popped up within the Fulham field and caught Reed’s arm however the remaining whistle introduced aid and a uncommon victory over Wolves to the house facet – and frustration and anger within the guests’ camp.

What different selections have gone towards Wolves this season?

Wolves have beforehand been on the tip of 4 tough VAR calls this time period and O’Neil held talks with referees’ boss Howard Webb earlier this month.

The adjudication crew who overview contentious selections decided that the stoppage-time penalty that helped Sheffield United beat Wolves earlier in November mustn’t have been awarded.

Wolves had been additionally wrongly denied a stoppage-time penalty on the opening weekend of the season after they had been defeated by Manchester United.

In September, Luton had been awarded a controversial penalty as Wolves had been denied victory in a 1-1 draw at Kenilworth Street. Joao Gomes was adjudged to have handballed a cross, which initially hit his leg earlier than placing his arm.

Then, towards Newcastle throughout a 2-2 attract October, Hee-Chan Hwang was deemed to have fouled Fabian Schar within the field on the stroke of half-time – however VAR refused to intervene.

Silva: We went for the win greater than Wolves

Fulham supervisor Marco Silva chatting with Sky Sports activities: “It’s a extremely vital win for us. We needed to see a response from back-to-back defeats. It was actually vital for us to minimise the errors. We began rather well. I actually needed to see the standard, the depth. It was the Fulham I needed to see.

“We would have liked spirit. We at all times tried to win the sport greater than Wolves.”

What’s subsequent?

Fulham journey to Liverpool within the Premier League on Sunday December 3; kick-off 2pm.

In the meantime, Wolves journey to Arsenal on Saturday December 2; kick-off 3pm.