Saturday Fulham Stuff - 25/02/23...

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Friday
Fulham	1-1	Wolves

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Fulham 1-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers

Manor Solomon is the first Israeli player to score in three consecutive Premier League appearances since Ronny Rosenthal in November 1992

Substitute Manor Solomon scored for the third consecutive game as European hopefuls Fulham fought back to claim a hard-fought Premier League draw at home to struggling Wolves.

Solomon's superb curling effort into the right corner rescued a point for the hosts, who generally underwhelmed as they missed the opportunity to move level on points with fifth-placed Newcastle.

Until the Israel international's intervention, Wolves had looked on course to claim a valuable three points courtesy of Pablo Sarabia's sweeping first-half effort.

The Spain winger, who had earlier seen a weak attempt saved by home goalkeeper Bernd Leno, expertly turned in Raul Jimenez's knock down after twice linking with the Mexico international in the build up.

Had Jimenez been able to turn home a second-half header he narrowly glanced wide the game might have proved beyond Marco Silva's side, who barely threatened until the closing stages.

The result leaves the Cottagers sixth in the table on 39 points, while Wolves remain 15th, four points above the relegation zone.

A night of missed opportunities
Both sides are likely to come away from this contest with a tinge of regret, with a point hardly an ideal outcome for sides with disparate ambitions this term.

Fulham will look back ruefully on a chance lost to apply further pressure on Newcastle and Tottenham as they look to secure European football for the first time since 2011-12.

However, they did little to merit more, delivering a flat performance that provided little for the home supporters to get excited about until the final 15 minutes when, having levelled, they pressed forward in search of a winner and Carlos Vinicius forced visiting goalkeeper Jose Sa into a superb save.

"Many things were different in the second half, the dynamic of the team and the way we pressed the ball. We didn't do that well enough from the start," Fulham boss Silva told BBC Sport.

"It was a reaction that I wanted but that's how we should have started. He [Manor Solomon] needs to keep doing what he's doing. He doesn't have 90 minutes in his legs yet. He has been really important but let's hope he continues doing it."

Solomon's goal-scoring cameo was another step forward for the on-loan Shakhtar Donetsk winger, who only returned in January from a serious knee injury sustained in the first game of the season.

Until he struck Wolves' only concern appeared to be a second-half injury to forward Matheus Cunha, who was taken off on a stretcher after lengthy treatment following a seemingly innocuous challenge.

With Sa making routine stops from a tame Vinicius header, an Andreas Pereira free-kick and a Joao Palhinha effort, Wolves appeared on course to claim a welcome fifth win in nine top-flight matches under former Spain boss Julen Lopetegui.

Aside from good chances for Sarabia and Jimenez, Ruben Neves also headed wide from Matheus Nunes' cross with Wolves in control.

But they were eventually made to pay, with the visitors now having dropped 15 points from winning positions this term.

"The match changed after the injury to Cunha. We have the need to get a lot of points to stay out of relegation. It's going to be a hard and tough task but we have one more today," Lopetegui told Sky Sports.



https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64671841

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Post-Wolves Press Conference

After Fulham improved on a below-par first half to fight back and earn a point against Wolverhampton Wanderers, Marco Silva acknowledged that a draw was a fair result.

"I believe our first half was not at the level that it should be, and our pressure was not even close to the way we planned, the way we should have done," he said.

"We let them start the game so easily, without pressure, and they were too comfortable in that situation.

"Normally we don't give that time for opposition sides to start building their attacks the way they did it, and of course when you do that, it's much more difficult for us to have control in the game.

"Our pressure was not good, and then after that our dynamic on the ball was not enough as well. We never controlled the first half to be honest.

"For their goal, we made a mistake solely in the position of our two midfielders on the side of the ball and there was space there for them to explore.

"We spoke at half-time. We changed not just two players, we changed many, many things in our team.

"Of course, the two players made an impact in the game, but we as a team, we were completely different, much more aggressive, better positions off the ball as well to be aggressive in our first pressure as well, much more strong in some duels.

"First half, most of the second balls they won as well. Our dynamic was completely different second half.

"We equalised the game with a great goal from Manor, and I have to say second half we were really the team that showed more ambition to win the game. We controlled the game much more.

"Okay, there were not many chances for both teams, it was really a balanced game. We had a great chance from Vinicius at the end, great save from Sa, but probably it's a fair result."

It was the third time in a row that Manor Solomon has stepped off the bench to score, but Silva is still keen to manage his game time wisely.

"He's showing the quality that he has, and he's helping the team as well," he explained. "Manor is not ready for 90 minutes, but at same time he needs minutes to play with this intensity, because this is the Premier League and when you've had three or four months without playing football matches week in and week out, it is always difficult for you.

"All my players have to be important for the team, from the start or from the bench. This is what I demand from them, and after it's up to me to take the decisions that are best for the team.

"But of course I'm pleased that a player that came from the bench the last three games scored such important goals for us. It's really important and, more importantly for him, it's boosting his confidence."



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2023/february/24/post-wolves-press-conference/

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Fulham 1-1 Wolves

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.

Fulham FC: Leno, Tete, Diop, Ream, Robinson, Reed (Lukić 45'), Palhinha, De Cordova-Reid (Solomon 45'), Andreas, Willian (Wilson 83'), Vinícius

Subs: Duffy, Solomon, Kurzawa, Tosin, Wilson, Rodák, James, Lukić, Cédric Soares

Wolves: José Sá, Dawson, Kilman, Bueno, Nélson Semedo, Matheus Nunes (Daniel Podence 76'), Rúben Neves, Lemina, Sarabia (João Moutinho 76'), Matheus Cunha (Adama Traoré 60'), Jiménez (Diego Costa 84')

Subs: Collins, Diego Costa, Aït-Nouri, Adama Traoré, João Moutinho, João Gomes, Bentley, Daniel Podence, Jonny



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2023/february/24/fulham-1-1-wolves/

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Fulham 1-1 Wolves: Manor Solomon's superb strike earns the Europe-chasing hosts a point after Pablo Sarabia had given the visitors a deserved lead... with Julen Lopetegui's side missing the chance to go six points clear of the drop zone

    Fulham rescued a 1-1 draw at home against struggling Wolves on Friday evening
    Cottagers winger Manor Solomon cancelled out Pablo Sarabia's neat opener

There were Fulham fans waving Israel flags at Craven Cottage and you knew who they wanted to see. They were waiting for Manor Solomon, or 'King Solomon' as some have started calling him.

Yet again, he treated those supporters to another royally enjoyable evening in his company.

For the third Premier League game in succession, the summer signing from Shakhtar Donetsk was introduced as a substitute and scored, this time securing Fulham a hard-fought point.

It was an elegant effort from 20 yards which curled into the corner in the 64th minute that saved Fulham here. If ever a player is earning himself a reputation as a 'super sub', it is Solomon, though on the bench is not where he wants to be.

The 23-year-old Israel international has not yet started a Premier League game for Fulham. He cannot do much more than he is doing, and manager Marco Silva will reward him soon enough.


Manor Solomon (left) earned Fulham a point in a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Wolves on Friday


The Israeli winger came on as a substitute at half-time and changed the game for the hosts


His clever curling strike beat Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa and marked his third in three games


January signing Pablo Sarabia (right) had opened the scoring for Wolves in the first period


Marco Silva's side went two points off fifth while Wolves went four clear of the relegation zone

'He's showing the quality he has,' Silva said.

'He's working hard. He's fighting for his position. I know he wants to start. Manor is not ready for 90 minutes.'

But Solomon is getting close and is now the first Israeli player to score in three consecutive Premier League appearances since Ronny Rosenthal in 1992.

A draw felt fair in the end. Little separated these sides, with Pablo Sarabia's smart finish from a slick move handing Wolves a first-half lead.

'Fair or not, we came here looking for the three points,' Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui said.

There was a slow start to this fixture and in the 18th minute, Joao Palhinha was cautioned for a late sliding tackle on Matheus Cunha.

His 10th yellow of the season, Fulham's defensive midfielder will miss their next two games against Brentford and Arsenal.

Sarabia was behind the game's first attempt on goal, with the January signing from Paris Saint-Germain forcing Bernd Leno into a save.

But Leno could not stop Sarabia the next time he took aim.

In the 23rd minute, he collected Raul Jimenez's cushioned header.

Sarabia set himself with his left foot and then blasted the ball with his right for a 1-0 lead.

Fulham's first shot on target came from the head of Carlos Vinicius, though the ball flew into the arms of Jose Sa.

Vinicius was filling in for Aleksandar Mitrovic, the injured striker who was watching from the stands, no doubt frustrated.

Trailing 1-0 at half time, Fulham had not offered enough in the final third. Silva made two changes at the break – Solomon for Bobby De Cordova-Reid, and Sasa Lukic for Harrison Reed.

In the 55th minute, Cunha and Sarabia dropped down injured for Wolves, who wanted the ball kicked out of play.

Fulham refused. They played on in the hope of taking advantage of their opponents' nine men, possibly suspecting it was a time-wasting ploy.

When Fulham's attack came to nothing, pushing and shoving ensued between the players. Meanwhile, Cunha was carried away on a stretcher.

In the 64th minute, Solomon's time arrived. With the ball at his feet, he skipped inside and curled a shot towards Sa's goal. It had a long way to travel but Wolves' goalkeeper wasn't getting near it.

Solomon had done the business as a substitute for a third time. Quite the hat-trick from him.

Fulham thought they had won it amid eight minutes of stoppage time. Vinicius's header looked destined for Wolves' goal. But Sa somehow got a hand to it, and the spoils were shared.



https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-11790447/Fulham-1-1-Wolves-Manor-Solomons-fine-finish-sees-hosts-two-points-fifth.html

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The wisdom of bringing on Solomon pays dividends again for Silva as Fulham grab point against Wolves

Fulham (0) 1 Solomon 64

Wolves (1) 1 Sarabia 23



Manor Solomon repeated his Brighton party-piece to fire a sluggish Fulham back into a contest in danger of slipping away from them.

A goal down and looking blunt up to then, Fulham got their mojo back when Antonee Robinson won the ball and fed the Israeli wide on the left. His swift cut inside was followed by a perfect curling shot into the far corner and it was game on again.

Having cancelled out a goal from Pablo Sarabia, the feeling was that the Whites would go on and claim all three points and move level on points with fifth-placed Newcastle, but this time they had to settle for a point.

As against Brighton – where he hit a late smash-and-grab winner last week - Solomon did his work after coming off the bench. 

He scored in the win against Forest too and is acquiring a reputation as quite the impact sub. The warning sign for Wolves was that he was on the front cover of the match programme. They should have guessed what was coming.

The late, great John Motson used to say during dull matches he was commentating on that a goal was needed to liven it up for neutrals.  He could have been talking about this fixture.

Only five goals had been scored in the previous five encounters. Fulham hadn't found the net in the four previous meetings and not beaten the all-golds – or all-jades as they were tonight – for five years.

This time, though, it had a little more bite to it. Or at least the second half did.

Wolves led midway through the first half when Sarabia clinically dispatched from inside the area after Robinson failed to read a cross from Matheus Nunez and a lurking Raul Jiminez knocked the ball back with his head for the goalscorer.

The Whites had to play without Aleksander Mitrovic – the muscular injury picked up in the warm-up ahead of the Forest game ruled him out of the next game at Brighton and he was kept out again as a precaution.

His replacement, Carlos Vinicius, is very much in credit after his winner against Chelsea but he does not carry the same frisson of danger. A close-range header on 36 minutes at least tested Jose Sa and only a super stretching save denied the Brazilian a late winner after Kenny Tete's cross had picked him out.

In a first-half of limited punch from the hosts, Tete flashed a low just wide after a good pass inside from the ever-industrious Bobby Decordova-Reid and Andreas Pereira had a free-kick tipped over.

Marco Silva was not happy with what he saw and threw on Solomon and Sasa Lukic to try and shake things up at the interval. 

Wanderers were the ones who almost scored again when Jiminez spurned a gilt-edged opening – his glancing header flashing wide when he really should have put it away past Bernd Leno.

The miss was to prove costly, as Solomon scuppered hopes of an away win for Julen Lopetegui's team..



Whites: (4-2-3-1) Leno – Tete, Diop, Ream, Robinson – Reed (Lukic h/t), Palhinha – Decordova-Reid (Solomon h/t), Pereira, Wilian (Wilson 83) – Vinicius. Subs not used: Rodak, Kurzawa, Tosin, Duffy, Wilson, James



Wolves: (4-3-3) Sa – Semedo, Dawson, Kilman, Bueno – Nunes (Podence 76), Neves, Lemina – Sarabia (Moutinho 76), Jiminez (costa 84), Cunha (Traore 60). Subs not used: Bentley, Ait-Nouri, Collins, Jonny, Gomes

Attendance: 24,399



https://www.capitalfootball.co.uk/single-post/the-wisdom-of-bringing-on-solomon-pays-dividends-again-for-silva-as-fulham-grab-point-against-wolves

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Fulham, Wolverhampton Wanderers share the spoils at Craven Cottage

Manor Solomon cancelled out a first-half Pablo Sarabia effort as Fulham came from behind to draw 1-1 with Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League on Friday night.

Sarabia sent Wolves ahead in the 23rd minute of the contest, but a brilliant effort from Solomon secured a share of the spoils for Fulham, who were not at their best at Craven Cottage.

The result has left Fulham in sixth spot in the table, just three points behind fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur, while Wolves still occupy 15th, now four points ahead of the relegation zone.

Marco Silva's side are now six games unbeaten in all competitions, while Wolves have lost just one of their last four in the league, which is a run that has included two wins.

The game's first serious chance did not arrive until the 22nd minute, and it came for Wolves, with Sarabia's effort impressively saved by Bernd Leno after smart work from Nelson Semedo.

The visitors were not to be denied, though, and they made the breakthrough in the 23rd minute, with Sarabia finding the bottom corner after Raul Jimenez had nodded the ball down towards his teammate.

Fulham had the opportunity to level in the 37th minute when Bobby Decordova-Reid's cross found Carlos Vinicius inside the Wolves box, but his header was straight at Jose Sa.

Both teams had chances to add to the scoring in the closing stages of the first period, but Ruben Neves headed over the crossbar for Wolves before Kenny Tete and Andreas Pereira came close for Fulham, with the latter having a free kick tipped over the crossbar by Sa in first-half stoppage time.

Sarabia continued to cause the home side problems and created an opportunity for Jimenez in the 52nd minute with a clever cross, but the Mexico international headed wide of the post.

Fulham were level in the 64th minute of the contest, and it was a brilliant strike from half-time substitute Solomon, who worked space outside the Wolves box before bending one into the far corner of the net with his right foot, with the attacker registering for the third league game in a row.

The visitors almost scored a second in the 67th minute when Craig Dawson met a delivery from Neves, but the centre-back's header deflected off Issa Diop and over the crossbar.

Fulham wanted a penalty in the 75th minute when Joao Palhinha went down inside the box under a challenge from Mario Lemina, but VAR were happy for the play to continue.

The hosts were the team pushing for a winner in the latter stages of the contest, and Vinicius came close to snatching all three points when he met a cross from Tete, but Sa was on hand to make a brilliant save, with the points being shared in the English capital.

Next up for Fulham is a clash with Leeds United in the fifth round of the FA Cup, with their next Premier League game not taking place until March 6 away to Brentford.

Wolves, meanwhile, were knocked out of the FA Cup in the middle of January, but they are in league action next Wednesday, facing a trip to Anfield to take on Liverpool.



https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/fulham/relegation-battle/result/fulham-wolves-share-the-spoils-at-craven-cottage_507564.html

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Solomon strikes again to earn Fulham a point

Manor Solomon's magnificent second-half strike salvaged a point for Fulham at Craven Cottage.

The Israel international scored his third goal in as many games, after being introduced at half-time following an insipid first-half showing from the Whites, who were once again without the injured Aleksandar Mitrovic.

Fulham, trailing to a fine Pablo Sarabia goal midway through the first half, levelled when Solomon received the ball on the left touchline and cut inside to curl his shot past the helpless Jose Sa.

The on-loan Shakhtar Donetsk winger has scored from off the bench in his past three Premier League appearances, having won the game at Brighton last week with a late goal.

His introduction lifted Marco Silva's side, who were second best for the first 45 minutes against a vibrant Wolves side who spurned two glorious opportunities to put the game out of sight when Ruben Neves and Max Kilman headed two presentable chances over the bar.

Carlos Vinicius had the chance to steal the three points deep into stoppage time when Kenny Tete delivered a peach of a cross onto the head of the Brazilian only for Sa to pull off a fine full-length save.

The draw extended Fulham's unbeaten run to five games but it was tempered by 10th booking of the season for influential midfielder Joao Palhinha that will rule him out next Monday's derby against Brentford and game against Arsenal on March 12.

Fulham: Leno, Tete, Ream, Diop, Robinson, Palhinha, Reed (Lukic 45), Pereira, Willian (Wilson 83), Vinicius, De Cordova-Reid (Solomon 45).



https://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/solomon-strikes-again-to-earn-fulham-a-point

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Report | Fulham 1-1 Wolves
Fulham 1 (Solomon 64) Wolves 1(Sarabia 23)

Pablo Sarabia's first goal for the club was enough for just one point at Craven Cottage, as Wolves and Fulham battled out an entertaining draw down by the Thames.
The Spaniard's crisp finish and clever assist from Raul Jimenez had Wolves ahead at the break, and they were good value for it, with Sarabia having gone close earlier in the half and Ruben Neves heading over for Julen Lopetegui's side.

The Cottagers rang the changes at the break, and one new addition Manor Solomon curled home a fine equaliser, before Wolves turned their thanks to Jose Sa, whose brilliant save to deny Carlos Vinicius at the death helped preserve a point.

Showing no lack of confidence after last week's defeat, the first-half down in west London belonged to Wolves. Two recognised strikers brought a new dimension to Lopetegui's attack and the support of Matheus Nunes and Sarabia caused Fulham constant problems.

Sarabia has looked lively in Wolves colours so far and he would have been disappointed his first goal for the club didn't arrive on 21 minutes, when Jimenez and Nelson Semedo combined down the right to create the opening, but the Spaniard shot straight at Bernd Leno.

He made up for it minutes later, however, in emphatic fashion. Nunes' cross was deliberately deep and allowed Jimenez to nod back perfectly into the path of Sarabia, who this time went on his right and drilled low into the bottom corner, across Leno's dive.

Despite Wolves impressing, there were chances at either end to make the half-time score look very different. Vinicius headed into the arms of Sa, after a good cross by Bobby De Cordova-Reid, while the Cottagers came close on the stroke of half-time when Andreas Pereira's free-kick was turned over.

Wolves themselves could have had a second however, after Hugo Bueno got in down the left and played back for Nunes, who again crossed impressively – a theme of the first-half – and while Neves met his delivery, the captain couldn't keep his effort down.

Half-time | Fulham 0-1 Wolves
Encouraged by their first half display, Wolves were on the look-out for number two quickly after the break, and Maximilian Kilman headed a Neves free-kick on to the roof of the net, before Jimenez glanced wide Sarabia's in swinging cross.

However, as Wolves looked for the second, they were hit at the opposite end by a piece of brilliance. There wasn't a whole lot the old gold could do as Solomon came inside a curled a sublime finish into the bottom corner from the edge of the box to draw the hosts level.

From that point, the game turned a little scrappy, with neither side able to grab a foothold on proceedings. Craig Dawson did look to have produced the instant response when he got his head to Neves' free-kick, but a crucial block stopped it tested Leno.

The biggest chance of the game came deep into added time when Harry Wilson held up a cross for Vinicius, who got a good header to the ball, but Sa worked wonders at full-stretch to turn his effort around the post – a brilliant piece of goalkeeping to earn Wolves their point.

Full-time | Fulham 1-1 Wolves

Fulham | Leno, Tete, Diop, Ream, Robinson, Reed (Lukic 46), Palhinha, De Cordova-Reid (Solomon 46), Pereira, Willian (Wilson 83), Vinicius.

Unused subs | Rodak, Kurzawa, Tosin, Duffy, Soares, James.

Wolves | Sa, Semedo, Dawson, Kilman, Bueno, Lemina, Neves, Nunes (Moutinho 76), Cunha (Adama 60), Sarabia (Podence 76), Jimenez (Costa 84).

Unused subs | Bentley, Jonny, Ait-Nouri, Collins, Gomes.



https://www.wolves.co.uk/news/mens-first-team/20230224-report-fulham-1-1-wolves/

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Super Solomon strike earns Fulham draw with Wolves

LONDON, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Substitute Manor Solomon's stunning second-half strike earned Fulham a 1-1 draw at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers in a tight affair at Craven Cottage in the Premier League on Friday.

Wolves, who are edging away from the relegation zone, were much the better side in the first half and deservedly went in front after 23 minutes through Pablo Sarabia's fine finish, the Spain international's first goal in English football.

Sixth-placed Fulham rarely threatened without injured top scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic but Solomon stepped up with a superb leveller in the 64th minute, curling the ball into the net from distance and scoring for the third successive league match.

Solomon became the first Israeli player to score in three consecutive Premier League appearances since Ronny Rosenthal for Liverpool in November 1992, with all three of the Fulham attacker's goals coming from the bench.

Wolves threw striker Diego Costa on late in the game as they searched for a winner but had to settle for a draw that pulled them four points clear of the relegation zone, having played one more game than West Ham United in 18th.

"We came here to win the match," Wolves coach Julen Lopetegui told the BBC. "We played a good match with big commitment and hard work.

"In the first half I think we overcame them. It was a pity with the problems we had in the second half and we had to change. After their goal it was a more balanced match."

The hosts missed the chance to move level on points with Newcastle United in fifth although their tally of 39 points from their first 25 games of the season is Fulham's second-best return at this stage of a top-flight campaign.

"Many things were different in the second half, the dynamic of the team and the way we pressed the ball," Fulham coach Marco Silva told Sky Sports. "We didn't do that well enough from the start.

"...we were much more dynamic on the ball after halftime and that gave (Andreas) Pereira the chance to create. It was a reaction that I wanted but that's how we should have started."



https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/super-solomon-strike-earns-fulham-draw-with-wolves-2023-02-24/?rpc=401&;

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Fulham 1-1 Wolves: Manor Solomon extends scoring run as Marco Silva's side earn point at Craven Cottage

Fulham are just three points off the Champions League spots

Manor Solomon struck again off the bench to earn Fulham a 1-1 draw with Wolves at Craven Cottage.

The winger came on to score his third goal in as many matches - after hitting the winner at Brighton last weekend and also netting against Nottingham Forest - cancelling out Pablo Sarabia's first-half opener for Wolves.

Wolves were just three points above the Premier League drop zone going into the weekend but secured what could prove an important point against a high-flying Fulham side who have lost only two matches - at Newcastle and home to Tottenham - since the World Cup break.

However, the Cottagers' attacking prowess was diminished as talisman striker Aleksandar Mitrovic missed a second straight game due to a hamstring injury.

Fulham struggled to get going against a Wolves side who started quickly but there were few clear chances at the start of the match, with both sides unable to fashion out openings.

Wolves capitalised on their possession dominance when Sarabia fired the visitors into the lead in the 23rd minute.

Raul Jimenez knocked the ball down in the box to his team-mate, who had time to take a touch then fire past Bernd Leno for his side's opener and his first goal for the club.

It was a rare goal for Fulham to concede, just a fifth in the league since the resumption of the Premier League in December, after an uncharacteristically flat start from the hosts.

They did though have a chance in the 37th minute, when Carlos Vinicius headed a Bobby De Cordova-Reid cross straight at Jose Sa.

From the final kick of the first half, Sa had to tip an Andreas Pereira free-kick over the bar but Fulham found it difficult to impose themselves, despite going into the weekend sixth in the table after an impressive first half of the season.

Wolves suffered a blow when Matheus Cunha was carried off on a stretcher early in the second half, following an innocuous challenge.

Fulham did not start the second half with significantly more attacking threat than the first, but they did find an equaliser shortly after the hour mark.

Half-time substitute Solomon picked up the ball at the edge of the box and expertly curled past Sa and into the far corner.

Fulham had a late chance to wrap up the win, but Vinicius' header was saved by a diving Sa in stoppage-time and the points were shared.



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/fulham-vs-wolves-manor-solomon-premier-league-2023-result-b1063034.html

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Fulham lack bite as bogey team Wolves provide unwelcome test of accidental European hopes

Premature European football talk turned to 'we only wanted to stay up' for Fulham after being outplayed by Wolves for much of their 1-1 draw in the Premier League on Friday.

A lot of the build-up for Fulham vs Wolverhampton Wanderers was about the Cottagers, who have been absolutely fantastic under Marco Silva this season. So fantastic there has been some talk of them maintaining their good form and qualifying for a European competition.

Jamie Carragher said if the season stopped now, Silva would be Premier League manager of the year. Considering Fulham have failed to avoid relegation in a Premier League season in their last three attempts and are comfortably safe already, that is not a bad shout. I am sure Eddie Howe and Mikel Arteta would have something to say, though.

Wolves have been something of a bogey team for Fulham in recent years. Their last win against the Molineux side came in 2018 and their last top-flight triumph came in 2012 – a 5-0 win nonetheless.

Without their star man, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Fulham lacked bite and any sort of presence going forward. They were outplayed by Wolves for the vast majority of the opening 45 minutes. Early on, Joao Palhinha received a needless booking, ruling him out of two London derbies against Brentford and Arsenal having become the first Premier League player to pick up ten yellow cards in 2022-23. His absence could be pivotal going into these two games and with Wolves on top, it was hard for Fulham to not feel pessimistic.

Pablo Sarabia had the first chance of the match, and the second chance, which he took very well. "Wolves come out at night" Martin Tyler said literally seconds before the Spaniard made it 1-0 to the visitors. It was looking bleak for the hosts as Julen Lopetegui's men took a deserved lead.

Annoyingly for Fulham, their best spell of the first half came in the final ten minutes. After praying for the half-time whistle for the majority of the opening 45 minutes, they would have been frustrated to hear it having won a corner from a teasing Andreas Pereira free-kick.

Fulham were a different side in the second half. Silva brought on Manor Solomon and Sasa Lukic, and it was the former who made the difference with a moment of magic.

The Israeli winger scored an absolute peach, netting in his third consecutive Premier League match. Fittingly, his strike came exactly a year on from Russia's invasion of Ukraine, an act which ultimately led to the player's transfer to Craven Cottage.

Unfortunately for us, Fulham's improved performance made the second half a lot less entertaining than the first. Fulham showed character. It was a game of two halves. All of that stuff. The Cottagers proved that European football talk was a bit premature, and Wolves showed us that they will be just fine under Julen Lopetegui.

The Spanish manager has these Wolves players playing how they should be. Matheus Cunha being stretchered off will be a huge blow as the long wait for a striker to score in the league goes on. Cunha has looked the most likely for the Midlands side. Diego Costa does not look dangerous whatsoever, and Raul Jimenez is barely a shade of the player he was pre-injury, which is understandable; it was a bloody horrific injury.

Wolves will be just fine. Relegation won't happen, I am pretty sure about that. Fulham, on the other hand, risk becoming the sort of team everyone will want to play pretty soon. European football is probably a premature, unexpected, but welcome thing to talk about, but they should be ambitious, otherwise they will have nothing to play for pretty soon. Saying that, I am sure they would have bit anyone's hand off to be in this situation if you offered it at the start of the season.

Coming from behind and getting a result they might not have deserved is a good sign. They did it last week at Brighton and if they keep grinding out results, they could manage to do something very, very special this season.



https://www.football365.com/news/fulham-lack-bite-as-bogey-team-wolves-provide-unwelcome-test-of-accidental-european-hopes

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Super-sub Solomon saves Fulham against Wolves

Israeli nets for third consecutive substitute appearance to take his team three points off fourth

Super-sub Manor Solomon was the hero again as his superb strike earned Fulham a point following a 1-1 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers.

After replacing Bobby De Cordova-Reid at half-time, Solomon curled in from the edge of the box to score for a third consecutive substitute appearance, only the 19th time it has happened in Premier League history.

Wolves had dominated the first half and took a deserved lead through Pablo Sarabia's first Premier League goal, a neat finish from Raul Jimenez's knockdown.

But Marco Silva's half-time changes made a difference and Fulham might have taken all three points had Jose Sa not saved spectacularly from Carlos Vinicius in the dying moments.

Fulham extend their unbeaten run to four matches and move on to 39 points, two behind fifth-placed Newcastle United and three off Tottenham Hotspur in fourth. Impressively, only Manchester United, with 23, have won more points since the Premier League resumed than Fulham's 20.

There was a sour note for the Cottagers, though, in that Joao Palhinha received his 10th yellow card of the season, meaning he will now be suspended for their next two fixtures, London derbies against Brentford and Arsenal.

Wolves remain in 15th on 24 points, four points above 18th-placed West Ham United, but Julen Lopetegui's side have played one match more than each of the bottom three.

Bumper action on Saturday
The teams beneath Wolves are in all action on Saturday, with huge matches at both the top and bottom of the table.

Arsenal can pile the pressure on Manchester City and go five points clear if they win at Leicester City in one of four 15:00 GMT matches, two-and-a-half hours before Man City's fixture at AFC Bournemouth.

At the other end, Everton can move four points above the relegation zone and above Wolves with a win over Aston Villa, with Sean Dyche looking to become the first permanent manager in the club's history to win his first three home league matches without conceding.

The bottom two go head-to-head in a massive duel as Leeds United host Southampton, while the day ends with Crystal Palace hosting a Liverpool side looking to bounce back from UEFA Champions League disappointment in midweek.



https://www.premierleague.com/news/3077709

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Marco Silva praises Manor Solomon after he came off the bench to score again versus Wolves but admits the winger is not ready to play 90 minutes after injury struggles

    Marco Silva praised Manor Solomon after the winger's impact off the bench
    Solomon scored versus Wolves following on from goals in previous two games
    However, Silva stressed Solomon isn't yet ready to start after his injury struggles

Marco Silva praised goalscorer Manor Solomon but admitted he is not yet ready to play 90 minutes after his equaliser earned Fulham a 1-1 draw with Wolves at Craven Cottage.

The winger suffered a serious ankle injury at the start of the season, ruling him out for four months of the campaign, but since his return he has found the net three times in as many matches.

Solomon struck the winner at Brighton last week and also scored against Nottingham Forest, before his effort on Friday cancelled out Pablo Sarabia's goal to secure a point for the hosts.

Silva praised the Israel international's quality but issued a note of caution as to when he will be ready for a full match.

'When a player performs well coming off the bench of course he is showing the quality that he has, how he is helping the team as well,' the Fulham boss said.


Marco Silva praised Manor Solomon after the winger came on to score against Wolves


Fulham boss Silva admitted that Solomon isn't yet ready to play 90 minutes after injury

'Of course Manor is not ready for 90 minutes but he needs minutes to play with this intensity because it is the Premier League and when you are out from playing for three or four months it is always difficult.

'The most important thing for me, for all the players, is they have to be important for the team, from the start or from the bench, that is what I demand from them.

'But I am pleased with a player who has come from the bench in the last three games, he has scored some important goals for us, and more importantly for him because it has boosted his confidence and he is different from the other players in what he has.

'His one-v-one situation is really strong and coming from the left he is important.'

Wolves were just three points above the Premier League drop zone going into the weekend but secured what could prove an important point against a high-flying Fulham side who have lost only two matches - at Newcastle and at home to Tottenham - since the World Cup break.

Manager Julen Lopetegui praised Sarabia for scoring his first goal for the club in a difficult game.

'(Goals are) always important for all the players,' he said. 'The most important thing is they score for our team.

'Happy for him but also for the team. It was a pity because we wanted to win here and we didn't do it.

'Fair or not, you can't change it. We came here looking for the three points and I think in the end we have one point more.

'We had to be positive, it's not an easy place to come, it's a tough match here against a good team.'



https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-11791301/Marco-Silva-praises-Manor-Solomon-came-bench-score-versus-Wolves.html