- Fulham took on Wolves in the Premier League at Craven Cottage on Saturday
- Matheus Cunha scored twice as Gary O’Neil’s side secured a crucial 4-1 victory
- Will Ruben Amorim be Man United’s saviour? LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off! Available wherever you get your podcasts. Episodes every Monday and Thursday
Only a few weeks ago, Gary O’Neil looked like a dead man walking. Wolves were rooted to the foot of the table and unable to find a win, by hook or by crook. All the signs pointed to the end of a relationship with their manager that had promised so much.
But as Storm Bertie took hold on a thoroughly miserable afternoon in the capital, it seemed as though O’Neil has weathered his own tempest. For now, at least.
Victory over Fulham, a side with their own ambitions of breaking into the top six, is not to be sniffed at. Not least when you stick four past them for your first away win in 11 league matches, securing back-to-back wins for the first time since February in the process.
A magnificent brace from Matheus Cunha and a goal apiece from Joao Gomes and Goncalo Guedes helped to lift Wolves out of the relegation zone, capping off what turned out to be a comfortable win in a game Fulham dominated for the first half-hour.
The hosts should have taken the lead when Reiss Nelson played a cute pass around the corner to Antonee Robinson, who delivered an inch-perfect for Raul Jimenez. The Mexican scored 40 goals in 122 games during his five years in the west midlands but somehow he struck the bar from five yards out against his former employers.
Wolves made it two wins in a row with an impressive 4-1 victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage
The in-form Matheus Cunha scored twice as Wolves climbed out of the relegation zone
The win eased the pressure on Gary O’Neil and came after they beat Southampton last time out
Not long after and Alex Iwobi did put Fulham ahead. The Nigerian is playing the best football of his career and turned on the style again, making the most of the reluctance of Wolves’ defence to close him down by curling wonderfully into the far corner.
Wolves had hardly laid a glove on Marco Silva’s side but were back level after a Mario Lemina pass that was as good, if not better, than Iwobi’s goal.
Lemina, filling in at centre back for the absent Craig Dawson, clipped a glorious pass straight over the middle of Fulham’s backline and right onto Cunha’s toes.
The Brazilian still had plenty to do and did the rest with style and elegance, taking a touch with his foot, then his thigh, before prodding over Bernd Leno for his sixth goal of the season.
Eight minutes into the second-half and as the rain thundered down the visitors took the lead.
A slick passing move between Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, Cunha and Joao Gomes did the damage, though the latter was gifted acres of space inside the Fulham box to strike across Leno and into the far corner.
Silva turned to his bench, bringing on Tom Cairney and super sub Harry Wilson. The former almost gifted Cunha a goal with a misplaced pass that only a late Calvin Bassey made amends for.
Wilson’s impact was more positive, at least, as the Welshman struck the bar from distance with a strike that swirled in the gusts.
Joao Gomes put O’Neil’s side 2-1 ahead, before Cunha and Goncalo Guedes added the gloss
Alex Iwobi had put Fulham 1-0 up earlier in the afternoon with an impressive left footed finish
The former Arsenal and Everton man continued his brilliant season with the early strike
Cunha has now netted seven goals in just 12 appearances in the Premier League this season
It was a disappointing day for Marco Silva, whose side saw their recent progress come to a halt
Silva rung the changes again but his side became easy pickings on the break. First, Cunha bent his shot into the far corner after Joao Gomes brushed Sasa Lukic off the ball.
And then in injury time, substitute Guedes struck to leave the Wolves fans singing in the rain.
