Sunday Fulham Stuff (11/12/16)...

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham 4 Wolverhampton 4: Quick Thoughts
Coming from behind, blowing a lead, blowing a result, and grabbing a late equalizer. A crazy game.

Fulham went with an unchanged starting lineup. Curiously, there was no traditional striker on the bench to backup Chris Martin.

For Wolves the most interesting part of their lineup was that 19 year old Harry Burgoyne was starting in goal. Fulham players had to be licking their chops when they learned they were going up against such a young, inexperienced goal keeper.

Fulham dominated the first 20 minutes in possession, shots, corners, and just about everything else you could think of. Of course this meant that Wolves were able to score on a corner to take a 1-0 lead in the 21st minute.

Fulham were able to equalize after a quick counter when Stefan Johansen knocked in a shot (with his right foot no less) a Ryan Fredericks cross.

Things got even better for Fulham in the 39th minute when Sone Aluko was able to keep a ball alive by the corner flag, and then rolled it out for Fredericks who crossed it into the box where Floyd Ayite was able to head it into the goal.

Chris Martin won a free kick near one of the corner flags in the 43rd minute. Stefan Johansen took the free kick even though it made more sense for a right footer to whip it in. The Norwegian midfielder had a plan though. He played a ball to the top of the box where Tom Cairney was waiting to volley a shot into the net and give Fulham a 3-1 lead.

The half ended with Fulham leading 3-1, and it was quite deserved.

Wolves came out in the second half with more attacking intention, but after the first ten minutes the game settled back in to the more familiar form that it had in the first half. Lambert decided to mix things up at about the hour mark by replacing a holding mid with a striker as Jón Dadi Bödvarsson replaced Romain Saiss.

The young Wolves keeper managed to keep his club in the game as he made a double save first from a Cairney shot and then on the Aluko rebound. Moments later Nouha Dicko was lucky not to be sent off after a bad tackle on Johansen.

Dicko was one of the Wolves players who were able to capitalize on some poor defending by Tim Ream to get one of their goals back in the 65th minute. The goal woke up Wolves who seemed determined to push for a third. Slavisa Jokanovic countered that by pulling off Sone Aluko for Scott Parker in the 72nd minute.

Parker couldn't help as Malone was beaten on a through ball as Wolves made it 3-3 in the 73rd minute. The game became very end to end with no one coming particularly close to scoring for the next 10 minutes. In the 87th minute Wolves made a double change with Jack Price replacing Conor Coady and João Teixeira replacing Hélder Costa.

After the subs Wolves pressed even harder to get a fourth winning a series of corners and finally scoring in the 90th minute to make it 4-3. Set piece defending and Tim Ream continued to be Fulham's downfall on the evening.

Tim Ream was replaced by Neeskans Kebano in stoppage time in the hope that Fulham could salvage a point. Wolves were able to clear a free kick for a corner, but after the corner Fulham were able to score with Floyd Ayite heading in a ball on a short corner after it was kept alive by Kevin McDonald and Scott Malone.


http://cottagersconfidential.sbnation.com/2016/12/10/13906960/fulham-4-wolverhampton-4-quick-thoughts-crazy-draw

[WhiteJC]

 
Oxford United 1 (Hall 54), Oldham Athletic 1 (Burgess 10)

ROB Hall's first goal of the season could not spur Oxford United on to victory in a bad-tempered clash with ten-man Oldham Athletic at a sodden Kassam Stadium.

The winger's fine finish early in the second half cancelled out Cameron Burgess's early opener.

And when Ousmane Fane was sent off for two bookable offences in the 58th minute, the path looked clear for the hosts to go on and win the game.

But former U's loanee Connor Ripley starred with several good saves to keep out his former side.

The bad feeling between the sides also spilled over on to the touchline, where Appleton and a Oldham's goalkeeper coach Carlo Nash were sent to the stands after a blazing row.

United continued to pile on the pressure in the closing stages, but could not find a way through and had to settle for a point.

Alex MacDonald, Ryan Ledson and Chey Dunkley were recalled after missing the midweek trip to Southend United in the Checkatrade Trophy.

Ryan Taylor, Josh Ruffels and Aaron Martin made way, dropping to the bench.

Both sides contributed to a lively start, with Chris Maguire seeing two shots saved by Ripley after Oldham had won a corner after just 12 seconds.

Steady rain throughout the afternoon had made the pitch very wet and it may have played a role in Oldham's goal, in the tenth minute.

Dunkley received the ball just outside his box, but with no teammate available he opted to bring the ball out himself. A loose touch on the playing surface saw the ball squirm out of his control, leading to the centre back diving in on Ryan McLaughlin.

It was a cheap free-kick to concede 40 yards out – and United paid the price.

Goalkeeper Simon Eastwood came and missed Ollie Banks's delivery, which eventually fell for Burgess to tap into the empty net from six yards.

The Oldham centre back appeared to be in an offside position, but it was was unclear whether the ball had reached him via a United player.

It was a very preventable goal from the home side's perspective and gave the struggling Latics something to defend.

They were happy to put men behind the ball, forcing United to look long, where Peter Clarke invariably won the aerial battle with Kane Hemmings.

While the hosts became frustrated on the pitch, there was a commotion in the East Stand which ended with all the banners behind the goal being taken down.

United's search for a way back into the game continued, although despite winning a flurry of corners they struggled to create chances.

Oldham hardly threatened, but five minutes before the break a precise pass found Banks in the box and his dragged shot was just out of Billy McKay's reach.

The hosts began to use the ball better late in the half, causing Oldham problems.

Hall just failed to connect with a devilish low cross from Johnson, who was proving effective as a left back, while Ripley did well to hang on to a Maguire free-kick just before the break.

While they trailed, the hosts had found the formula to unlock the Latics.

United just needed a flash of quality – and it arrived nine minutes after the restart when Hall fired a shot dead straight into the far corner from 20 yards.

The hosts had their tails up and the momentum swung towards them even more just before the hour mark.

Johnson was too quick for Fane out wide, luring a mis-timed tackle which earned the midfielder a second booking of the afternoon.

The Latics had half an hour to survive with ten men and for a few minutes it looked like the game would boil over.

Banks chopped Hall down with a rash challenge which saw the winger, just back from seven months out injured, jump to his feet and push the midfielder over. Both players were booked.

When the game settled down, United did not have trouble forging chances.

But Ripley, who had one unhappy game on loan with the U's in 2012, stood up to the onslaught.

The goalkeeper kept out efforts by Maguire, Johnson and Dunkley as Oldham hung on grimly.

With ten minutes remaining tempers raged on the touchline as Appleton had to be restrained in a row with Oldham boss Stephen Robinson.

The U's head coach, normally so reserved in his technical area, was sent off, along with Nash.

In Appleton's absence his side continued to pour forward, spurred on by the addition of seven extra minutes.

Maguire had a big shout for a penalty turned down as Oldham clung on to a point.

Oxford Utd: Eastwood, Edwards, Nelson, Dunkley, Johnson, MacDonald (Ruffels 69), Lundstram, Ledson, Hall (T Roberts 83), Maguire, Hemmings (Taylor 90).

Unused subs: Buchel, Raglan, Martin, Rothwell.

Oldham Ath: Ripley, Law, Burgess, Clarke, Dunne, Flynn (Croft 68), Banks, Clarke, Green, McLaughlin (Wilson 85), McKay (Erwin 52).

Unused subs: Kettings, Dummigan, Osei, King.

Referee: Brett Huxtable (Devon).

Attendance: 7,430 (449 visitors).


http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/sport/oxfordunited/14959115.Oxford_United_1__Hall_54___Oldham_Athletic_1__Burgess_10_/

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham snatch point in eight-goal thriller

Wolves 4 Fulham 4

Floyd Ayite scored deep into stoppage time to rescue a point for Fulham after a remarkable game at Molineux.

The Whites had been 3-1 up at the break, including a stunning strike from Tom Cairney, but looked like coming away empty-handed when they conceded three second-half goals, including a 90th-minute David Edwards finish.

But Ayite, who had opened his Fulham account with a header in the first half, nodded in from Scott Malone's delivery in a frantic finish.

Wolves had gone ahead midway through the first half as Helder Costa picked out Kourtney Hause from a corner and the centre-back's downward header beat David Button.

But two assists from Ryan Fredericks turned the game around, as he laid on the equaliser for Stefan Johansen and later delivered a cross for Ayite to head in and put the Whites in front.

Shortly before half-time, Johansen teed up Cairney with a free-kick and the midfielder struck a terrific left-footed volley from 25 yards out beyond Wolves' teenage goalkeeper Harry Burgoyne.

They would have stretched that lead in the second half but for 19-year-old Burgoyne, who on his full debut made an excellent double save, first denying Cairney and then Sone Aluko.

That was to prove crucial as Fulham's advantage was wiped out in the space of 10 minutes.

First, full-back Matt Doherty pulled one back after Conor Coady's cross was flicked-on by Nouha Dicko and then Ivan Cavaleiro drilled home the equaliser.

As the game ticked into injury-time, Edwards thought he had won it when he thrashed in from an acute angle, but Ayite popped up to level a few minutes later to earn Fulham a share of the points.

Fulham: Button; Fredericks, Ream, Kalas, Malone; McDonald, Johansen; Aluko (Parker 71), Cairney, Ayite; Martin.
Subs not used: Bettinelli, Odoi, Sigurdsson, Sessegnon, Kebano, Piazon.


http://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/fulham-deny-wolves-in-injury-time-after-eight-goal-thriller

[WhiteJC]

 
Inverness Caledonian Thistle 1-1 Hamilton Academical

Larnell Cole salvaged a point for Inverness against Hamilton but the home side's domination should have led to three points.
Ali Crawford gave Hamilton the lead in the 16th minute direct from a free-kick, but Cole pulled Caley Thistle level in the second half with a fierce strike.
Inverness dominated the second half and had several chances to take all three points but they were vulnerable on the break and it finished 1-1.
A seemingly clear-cut penalty decision also went against them, adding to a mounting sense of frustration for the home side.
Owain Fon Williams played through the pain to ease the hosts' goalkeeping crisis, with a half-fit Ryan Esson on the bench. Inverness also had Brad Mckay playing despite an injury in defence.
The visitors Hamilton made four changes - Mikey Devlin, Lennard Sowah, Rakish Bingham and Massimo Donati dropping out of the starting XI, with Greg Docherty, Louis Longridge, Scott McMann and Georgios Sarris their replacements.
Questions were raised about the goalkeeper's positioning for Hamilton's opening goal, with Crawford fizzing in a free-kick from deep on the left flank that went in at Fon Williams' near post.
A couple of half-chances came the way of Inverness, with Cole also denied by the offside flag. Lonsana Doumbouya glanced a header from Iain Vigurs' cross wide, while at the other end Alex D'Acol blasted one over.
Inverness were soon finding themselves on top, however, and should have had a penalty when Dan Seaborne blocked Doumbouya's header on the line with his arm. Referee Greg Aitken was unmoved, much to home manager Richie Foran's disgust.
Jake Mulraney managed to scoop a shot under Hamilton goalkeeper Gary Woods but it drifted wide, and there was further frustration when Greg Tansey superbly meandered his way through the Accies defence, only for Woods to deny him with his face.
A further chance for Carl Tremarco, skewed straight at Woods, went begging before the break as the barren run of luck continued.
Cole, Caley Thistle's best player in the first half, levelled in the 51st minute, being teed up by Mulraney before smashing in via the underside of the crossbar.
The hosts had Fon Williams to thank for denying Darian MacKinnon shortly after the goal and Crawford had a pair of shots off target.
Tansey and Cole were starting to boss proceedings and the latter had a spectacular effort volleyed over. With greater license to get forward, Tansey saw another shot blocked by sprawling Accies defender Sarris.
Foran's side saw a lot of the ball in the closing stages but were unable to force home a second goal, extending their winless run to six games.
ends


http://www.espnfc.co.uk/report?gameId=451794

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham star in amazing great eight-goal thriller with Wolves to claim a point
Whites go a goal down and then lead 3-1 at the break only to watch the hosts come back before they get a 4-4 draw - that's right, 4-4!

It's hard to avoid the cliche - but if ever there was a game of two halves - it was this one.

Fulham spurned a 3-1 half-time lead to come away with just a point as Wolves came back from the dead to earn a draw.

Just when it looked as if they were about to get nothing because Dave Edwards had netted in the 89th minute for Wolverhampton to go 4-3 ahead, Floyd Ayite rose at the back post in the third minute of injury time to equalise - again.

The Whites winger already scored in the first half to level, with follow-ups from Stefan Johansen and Tom Cairney, each one better than the last.

But the hosts hit back with goals of their own from Matt Doherty and Ivan Cavaleiro to put wind into Wolves' second-half sails.

Early doors, Chris Martin lost his shirt - but the hosts lost a lead as Fulham hit back to hit three in a scintillating first 45 minutes.

The big striker was forced to change his ripped shirt that hung from his back and mad him look like a character out of Pirates from the Caribbean.


Wonder strike: Tom Cairney scores
But it was the forward's side who eventually plundered.

Wolves went ahead with the one thing likely to rile the Whites boss most - a set piece.

The ball was whipped in from a corner to see Kortney Hause rise and nod in at the near post.

Nouha Dicko should have done a lot better when David Button spilled the ball. However, the Fulham keeper blew a huge sigh of relief as Dicko took the loose ball early and fired wide across the goal.

From what should have been 2-0 for Wolves, they were pegged back.

No sooner had Slavisa Jokanovic calmed down than Ayité got free at the back post to meet a fine cross from Ryan Fredericks to level.

Stefan Johansen will not have hit better when Fredericks again picked him out with a low cross for the midfielder to hammer top left corner and in off the bar.

It was Johansen's turn to provide and his free-kick was met on the edge of the box for Tom Cairney to hit a screamer and high into the goal.

That fabulous hit looked to have knocked the stuffing out of a struggling side.

But presumably on the end of a rollocking from manager Paul Lambert, Doherty's follow-up in a scramble was cleared on the line.

At the other end, rookie keeper Harry Burgoyne made a pair of outstanding saves. First from Cairney and then Sone Aluko on the follow up to deny a 4-1 lead.

And in the same way as Whites hit back when they should have been dead and buried, Wolves breathed life into their cause.

Conor Coady's cross was glanced by Dicko and Doherty was exactly where he needed to be to score from close range.

Cavaleiro fired a thunderous effort beyond Button, Edwards thought he had netted the winner, but wonderful never-say-die Whites and Ayite had the final word.


http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/fulham-star-amazing-great-eight-12302242

[WhiteJC]

 
Results

Friday
Brighton	2 - 0	Leeds
Saturday
Aston Villa	1 - 0	Wigan
Barnsley	2 - 1	Norwich
Brentford	2 - 1	Burton Albion
Huddersfield	2 - 1	Bristol Cty
Ipswich	1 - 1	Cardiff
Newcastle	4 - 0	Birmingham City
Reading	2 - 1	Sheff Wed
Rotherham	1 - 0	QPR
Wolves	4 - 4	Fulham
Preston NE	3 - 2	Blackburn Rovers

[WhiteJC]

 
Slavisa Jokanovic frustrated as Fulham throw away lead in thriller at Wolves

Fulham manager Slavisa Jokanovic bemoaned his side's inability to kill off Wolves following their 4-4 Sky Bet Championship draw at Molineux.

The visitors had powered into a 3-1 half-time lead after goals from Stefan Johansen, Floyd Ayite and Tom Cairney had cancelled out Kortney Hause's opener. But goals from Matt Doherty, Ivan Cavaleiro and a last-minute strike from Dave Edwards looked set to condemn them to a dramatic defeat before Ayite popped up in the fourth minute of stoppage time to salvage a point. "We led 3-1 and then we were losing," Jokanovic said. "We controlled many things and we can score some goals, but we can be more clinical. We didn't kill the game and we suffered for that. "We didn't manage our situation very well especially in the last half an hour. "I am not thinking about going up or staying in the league. I am thinking how we are going to fix our problems. "Wolves, with very simple football, created so many problems and in this situation we have to be more solid. We have to improve and not show our weaknesses like we showed today. "Before they scored the second goal we had a few chances, but we were not solid enough in the defence line. "This is not a new competition for me and is not the first time that something like this has happened. "If you want to be more competitive you have to find a solution to the situation we found ourselves in today." Despite conceding the late equaliser, Wolves boss Paul Lambert was full of praise for his side. "I thought we were absolutely brilliant," he said. "It's not often you will see those types of games. It was exciting and the crowd were unbelievable for us. "That's why you play the game and that's why I have got back into it. It's heart-attack material! "We were up against a really good side and we are a young team but I thought in the second half we were outstanding. "We need a little bit of help in January, there's no two ways about it - a bit of know-how - but we have a young, talented team. "We've got to be stronger defensively but we look a threat going forward. "I'm proud of the way we came back. But the crowd here are a major factor. They were great and if we turn in performances like that week in, week out, this will be a great place. "We should have seen it through. I thought we were the better side. They (Fulham) are a lovely footballing side but I think in the second half we were the team that looked like we were going to win. "It's another point to climb the table. We should have had three, but the performance was excellent."


Read more at: https://www.clubcall.com/fulham/slavisa-jokanovic-frustrated-as-fulham-throw-away-lead-in-th-1833633.html

[WhiteJC]

 
Head Coach Reaction

Head Coach Slaviša Jokanović was left frustrated by the result on a topsy-turvy afternoon at Molineux on Saturday afternoon.

Having battled back from one goal down, Fulham were unable to withstand a second half barrage from a physical Wolves outfit and saw a 3-1 lead slip away, with the hosts snatching a late go ahead goal. 

However, with 1 minute remaining Floyd Ayité spared the Whites blushes when he headed home his second goal of the game and meant the shares were spoiled and the match ended 4-4.

"I don't know how to react after this," he reflected. "We were leading 3-1 and after that we nearly lost the game.

"Then after that we battled back. I don't know whether the feeling I have is whether we lost today or we won.

"Generally we controlled many things. We could have scored more goals and been more clinical again.

"We did not kill the game. We had many crosses into the box and they were stronger than us. We did not manage our situation very well in the last half an hour.

"Wolves with very simple football caused us many problem. If you want to be more competitive and more important team we need to find a solution to this kind of approach."

With a two goal cushion at the interval, Paul Lambert went more direct in the second half and threw bodies forward.

Having expected a physical encounter, Jokanović was left frustrated not only by the inability of his side to put the encounter beyond doubt and deal with the aerial barrage.

"We conceded two very simple goals," he stated. "I don't know why it caused so many problems.

"In this situation we need to be more solid. We expected this kind of situation and we have to improve ourselves in that side of the game.

"We start not very relaxed. We did not kill the game before they scored their second goal.

"At the end we didn't put it beyond doubt and we were not solid enough.

"I tried to find a little bit of control by brining on Scott because it was very clear my team was losing control.

"We have to recover our minds ahead of Tuesday night as it will be a new challenge.

"We have to push hard and try and win three points in a few nights."


http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2016/december/10/head-coach-reaction

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham boss reacts to Wolves draw - and guess what? Jokanovic talks about 'fixing problems'
The Cottagers man in the dugout unhappy at the way two-goal lead nearly turns to defeat before Floyd Ayite rescues a point

Fulham manager Slavisa Jokanovic bemoaned his side's inability to kill off Wolves following their 4-4 draw at Molineux.

The visitors had powered into a 3-1 half-time lead after goals from Stefan Johansen, Floyd Ayite and Tom Cairney had cancelled out Kortney Hause's opener.

But goals from Matt Doherty, Ivan Cavaleiro and a last-minute strike from Dave Edwards looked set to condemn them to a dramatic defeat before Ayite popped up in the fourth minute of stoppage time to salvage a point.

"We led 3-1 and then we were losing," Jokanovic said. "We controlled many things and we can score some goals, but we can be more clinical. We didn't kill the game and we suffered for that.

"We didn't manage our situation very well especially in the last half an hour.

"I am not thinking about going up or staying in the league. I am thinking how we are going to fix our problems.

"Wolves, with very simple football, created so many problems and in this situation we have to be more solid. We have to improve and not show our weaknesses like we showed today.

"Before they scored the second goal we had a few chances, but we were not solid enough in the defence line.

"This is not a new competition for me and is not the first time that something like this has happened.

"If you want to be more competitive you have to find a solution to the situation we found ourselves in today."

Despite conceding the late equaliser, Wolves boss Paul Lambert was full of praise for his side.

"I thought we were absolutely brilliant," he said. "It's not often you will see those types of games. It was exciting and the crowd were unbelievable for us.

"That's why you play the game and that's why I have got back into it. It's heart-attack material!"


http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/fulham-boss-reacts-wolves-draw-12303243

[WhiteJC]

 
Ayite rescues point for Fulham in see-saw thriller
by DAN on DECEMBER 10, 2016

Floyd Ayite's unheralded aerial ability rescued a point for Fulham deep into stoppage time at the end of one of the most surreal matches of the season – and probably saved the Whites from an even sterner Slavisa Jokanovic tongue-lashing. Fulham's head coach prowled the Moulineux technical area in disgust after his somehow contrived to throw away a 3-1 lead, his mood worsened when Dave Edwards lashed in an improbable fourth goal from the tightest angles that looked to have set Wolves on their way to a first home win since September. Only Ayite's agility deep into stoppage time diverting home a back post knock down from Tomas Kalas grabbed a share of the spoils – but it seemed scant consolation considering how commanding the Cottagers' control of the fixture had once appeared.

This pulsating contest showcased the good, the bad and the downright ugly of Jokanovic's side. There were two sensational strikes to give Fulham a clear advantage, a rising drive from Stefan Johansen that arrowed into the top corner and a set-piece manoeuvre straight from the training ground that saw Tom Cairney volley home a short free kick from fully 25 yards with ridiculous ease. Some of Fulham's football was scintillating but the perennial problems that threatened to undermine their promotion push were also in evidence. Jokanovic's side squandered several good openings to put the game beyond Wolves – and the shambolic defending, which the Serbian had hoped was a thing of the past, returned with a vengeance.

Whilst Fulham have been far better at defending set pieces since the summer, the problem hasn't been completely eradicated. Watching the way Wolves, whose main game plan appeared to be to try unsettle their visitors with intensity, tenacity and physicality, took the lead you could have been forgiven for thinking that very little had changed. Helder Costa swung a corner to the back post and Kortney Hause rose far too easily above Tim Ream to head into the net, with David Button culpable in allowing the ball to squirm under his dive. The Fulham goalkeeper was jittery this afternoon and Ream – preferred to fit-again Ragnar Sigurdsson – had a torrid time with the pair combining to almost hand their hosts a second. The American's short back header placed Button under pressure from Noha Dicko but the goalkeeper appeared to have grabbed the loose ball only for it run loose. Button breathed a huge sigh of relief when Dicko's attempted finish drifted harmlessly across the face of goal.

The piercing nature of Wolves' breaks was rather at odds with the pattern of the first period, which saw Fulham enjoy plenty of possesion. With Kevin McDonald pulling the strings sublimely back on his old stomping ground, the visitors gradually recovered confidence and, but for a fine reaction save from teenage debutante Harry Burgoyne, Ayite would have swiftly levelled matters. The equaliser when it did come was a lightning bolt – the energetic Johansen catching Ryan Fredericks' near post cross so sweetly to leave Wolves' young keeper with no chance.

Six minutes later and Fulham were in front. Some balletic footwork from Sone Aluko created the space for Fredericks to whip over a devilish cross from the right and Ayite arrived to guide a header into the net from six yards out. Fulham's cushion grew further still when Cairney crashed home a majestic volley from long range after Johansen had floated a free-kick from the left towards his skipper – and at that point the Whites' advantage appeared impregnable.

But Wolves showed incredible fight and desire to scrap their way back into the contest. Lambert was bold, sending on Icelandic international Jon Dali Bodvarsson, and urged his side forward. The home side responded – roared on by a raucous support – and after Dicko fired in a snapshot, both Edwards and Matt Doherty came close to reducing the deficit. The Welsh midfielder's effort was repelled by Button and Fredericks found himself in the right place to keep out Doherty's rebound.

Then, it was Burgoyne's turn to earn acclaim. The young goalkeeper, deputising for the injured Carl Ikeme and Andy Lonergan, produced a superb double save to deny Cairney and Aluko. He did brilliantly to block the Fulham captain's strike from the edge of the box and showed great agility to spread himself and thwart Aluko at the near post just seconds afterwards. How Fulham would pay for their profligacy.

Wolves found the lifeline they craved midway through the second half when Dicko made the most of some panic in the Fulham defence, nodding down the second Conor Coady cross in quick succession and Doherty, arriving at speed into the six yard box, smuggled the ball home. Nine minutes later, Moulineux erupted when Ivan Cavaleiro surged away from Ream to reach an incisive Edwards ball and fire clinically past Button, who perhaps should have done better again. When Edwards somehow squeezed home his effort after Dicko made a nuisance of himself inside the box, it appeared as though the comeback of all comebacks was complete, but this Fulham side don't know when they're beaten.

Ayite's late leveller salvaged a point but there was an unerring feeling it should have been far more. Jokanovic seemed slow to react to the way Wolves overturned Fulham's superiority in central midfield during the second period – and when he did turn to the substitutes' bench it was to introduce Scott Parker, whose ageing limbs weren't best suited to the pulsating end-to-end contest the game had become. There's plenty to ponder ahead of Tuesday's meeting with Rotherham.

WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS (4-3-3): Burgoyne, Iorfa, Doherty, Batth, Hause, Doherty; Coady (Price 87), Saiss (Bodvarsson 59), Edwards; Costa (Teixeira 87), Dicko, Cavaleiro. Subs (not used): Flatt, Borthwick-Jackson, Saville, Enobakhare.

BOOKED: Edwards, Coady, Dicko, Burgoyne.

GOALS: Hause (22), Doherty (65), Cavaleiro (74), Edwards (90).

FULHAM (4-1-2-3): Button; Fredericks, Malone, Kalas, Ream (Kebano 90+3); McDonald; Johansen, Cairney; Ayite, Aluko (Parker 72), Martin. Subs (not used): Bettinelli, Odoi, Sessegnon, Sigurdsson.

BOOKED: Fredericks, Cairney, Malone.

GOALS: Johansen (33), Ayite (39, 90+4), Cairney (43).

REFEREE: Darren Bond (Lincolnshire).

ATTENDANCE: 19,020.


http://hammyend.com/index.php/2016/12/ayite-rescues-point-for-fulham-in-see-saw-thriller/