Fulham came from behind to earn a point with Wolverhampton Wanderers in Friday night’s clash at the Cottage.
Our guests had the better of the first period and deservedly led through Pablo Sarabia’s first goal for the club.
The Whites played with renewed vigour after the break, though, and restored parity with a brilliant Manor Solomon strike – his third goal in as many appearances off the bench.
The perfect turnaround was almost completed by Carlos Vinicius in stoppage time when he headed goalwards, but Wanderers goalkeeper Jose Sa pulled off a world class save to deny him.
After his assist in Brighton, Vinicius was brought into the starting XI in what was the sole change to the team that triumphed at the Amex.
Wolves would have been pleased with how they imposed themselves on proceedings early on, playing with a confidence that belied their position in the table, and they duly drew the first save of the game from Bernd Leno on 20 minutes, who was equal to Sarabia’s effort at the end of a neat move.
The Spaniard did much better three minutes later, though, lashing into the corner following Raul Jimenez’s knockdown from a deep Matheus Nunes’ centre.
Fulham had struggled to create much going forward until Bobby De Cordova-Reid took matters into his own hands with a delightful run down the right. He stood up a cross to Vinicius who got his header on target, albeit too close to Sa.
At the other end, Ruben Neves squandered a great chance after getting in between Tim Ream and Antonee Robinson to meet Nunes’ delivery, but the Wanderers captain headed well over.
A clever touch from De Cordova-Reid then gave Kenny Tete space to run into, and he kept going until he got into the box, where he dragged a shot wide.
The closest we came to an equaliser in the opening 45 was with the final action of the half when Andreas Pereira connected well with his 30 yard free-kick, only to see Sa palm it over.
Saša Lukić and Solomon came on at the break, with the switch seeing Willian switch to the right flank. There, his skill created a sight of goal for João Palhinha, whose first time strike was straight down the throat of Sa.
Wolves then threatened with two headers. First, Max Kilman rose to meet Neves’ free-kick and saw his attempt brush the top of the net, and then Jimenez glanced wide.
Fulham needed a moment of quality from somewhere, and it was Solomon who provided it, once again. Cutting in from the left, the winger bent a stunning dipper curling beyond the desperate dive of Sa and inside the far post.
Both sides sensed they could turn one point into three, and after Craig Dawson had his header deflect behind via Issa Diop, Andreas took aim from range but could only find the Hammy End.
Plenty of game management from the visitors prior to the equaliser meant eight minutes were added on at the end of the contest, and midway through that added time Vinicius thought he’d won it, but Sa made an unbelievable reflex save to claw away his header to ensure the points were shared.
