Fulham 0-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers: Mick McCarthy’s Men Move Further Away From Dropzone With Stalemate

Posted Sunday, April 18, 2010 by Goal.com

Wolverhampton Wanderers eased their relegation worries with a 0-0 draw against Fulham at Craven Cottage on Saturday.

Damien Duff and Bobby Zamora came closest for the hosts but couldn’t find a winner as Wolves moved six points above the relegation zone after earning a much-needed point.

Fulham made three changes from Sunday’s goalless draw with Liverpool. Jonathan Greening and Erik Nevland dropped to the bench with Simon Davies and Zoltan Gera starting in their place, while Chris Smalling replaced Brede Hangeland, who was rested.

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy named the same side that drew 0-0 against Stoke City last week, with David Edwards getting the nod ahead of Nenad Milijas to deputise for suspended captain Karl Henry, while George Elokobi was once again preferred to Stephen Ward at left-back.

Zamora has been Fulham’s best player this season and was involved just three minutes into the game. The former West Ham United forward found Gera on the left wing before continuing his run into the area and the Hungarian’s cross picked out Duff, who fired the ball left-footed on the volley towards goal, only to strike straight at the back of Zamora before the ball spun wide for a goal-kick.

Fulham had the game’s next best chance too. Baird whipped in a cross from the right into the near post and Davies somehow managed to flick the ball towards Zamora ten yards out but the on-form striker couldn’t get on the end of it and the ball ran out of play for a Wolves throw-in.

The home side had the majority of possession early on and almost scored the opener on ten minutes. Zamora used his strength to hold off the challenge of Berra before playing the ball out wide to Konchesky but his driven cross towards Gera was cut out by Craddock who fired the ball into the stands.

Murphy and Jones were involved in a clash of heads on 15 minutes. The pair both went up for a header and the Wolves midfielder came off worse and after receiving treatment, the former Manchester United man returned to the field sporting a new shirt and a Terry Butcher-style bandage around his head.

Fulham continued to dominate possession but were almost caught out when Etuhu was dispossessed in his own half. The Nigerian lost out to Edwards, who delivered a long ball forward for Doyle to run onto but as the Wolves striker looked to race through on goal, Hughes and Smalling combined to shepherd the ball back to Schwarzer.

The Cottagers were almost rewarded for their constant pressure after 20 minutes. Murphy delivered an inviting free-kick from the left into the area but after failed to connect at the near post, the ball ran through to Zamora but he could only glance his header wide of the far post.

Against the run of play, Wolves created their first chance of the game as the half hour mark approached. Zubar stormed down the right wing, outpacing Davies, before delivering an excellent cross into the centre but Hughes managed to get in front of Doyle to slice the ball out of play.

Wolves began to come into the game more as the first half progressed but would have gone behind had it not been for Berra. Fulham broke on the counter attack and Gera was found on the right wing and he allowed the ball to bounce before unleashing a fierce strike towards the bottom left-hand corner but Berra cut across from centre-back to block the Hungarian’s goal-bound effort.

Moments later, Zubar was involved again, shooting well wide of goal. Elokobi launched a long-throw into the area and the Fulham defence could only clear the ball as far as Zubar on the edge of the area, who fired the ball on the volley 20 yards wide of Schwarzer’s post.

Fulham’s best chances of the first half came through Duff and the Irishman came close again on 35 minutes. Baird’s right-wing cross found its way to Zamora on the edge of the box, and he laid the ball off to Duff 25 yards out but his strike was quickly closed down by Mancienne, who diverted the ball out for a corner.

Doyle has impressed with his tireless running this season and he was causing chaos to the Fulham back-line as the first half drew to a close. The lone striker flicked the ball forward to Jones, who miss-hit his close range effort back to Doyle, and he cut inside past Hughes before drilling a low shot inches wide of the post.

Fulham began the second half well but it was Wolves who had the first major chance after the break. Jones’ inswinging corner caught Schwarzer out and the usually unflappable Australian palmed the ball straight into the path of Berra, but he miscued his effort and the ball bounced clear of the far post.

The Cottagers then had a chance of their own through Duff again minutes later. Konchesky was found in space down the left wing and the former West Ham full-back whipped in a dangerous cross in the area for Wolves keeper Hahnemann to punch the ball straight to Duff just inside the box but his first-time strike flew wide.

Wolves had failed to score in their last three games coming into the game but almost took the lead with a sensational strike from Doyle. The ball broke to the Irishman on the right side of the Fulham area and he fired a stunning right-footed volley back across goal but the ball flashed just wide of the far post.

Roy Hodgson’s side then responded with a chance of their own. Baird raced down the right wing before delivering a superb cross into the area for Zamora, who outmuscled Craddock to latch onto the Northern Irishman’s pass, to strike at goal but Fulham’s top scorer fluffed his lines and failed to make contact with the ball from close range.

Zamora was at the heart of Fulham’s attacking play and on the hour mark, he found Konchesky on the left wing, and he combined with Davies, before picking out Murphy on the edge of the area but the skipper’s wild shot flew high and wide of Hahnemann’s goal.

Fulham continued to create chances and had a great chance to take the lead through Zamora just three minutes later. The Cottagers’ striker used his strength to hold the ball up brilliantly before turning his man to hit a fierce right-footed strike past Hahnemann, only to be denied by the post.

Wolves manager Mick McCarthy freshened things up for the last 25 minutes. The former Sunderland boss brought on on-loan French midfielder Guedioura and Milijas for Edwards and Jones in an attempt to create some chances for lone striker Doyle late on.

Smalling didn’t have much to do during the game but almost scored the opener for his side on 76 minutes. The defender set to join Manchester United in the summer leapt above Hahnemann to latch onto Davies’ cross but could only header over the bar from six yards out.

There were claims for a Fulham free-kick in a dangerous position towards the end of the second half. Craddock pulled the shirt of Zamora and brought the Cottagers forward down to the ground but referee Mike Dean ruled the offence to be legal and waved play on.

Fulham put pressure on a hard-working Wolves side and almost find a late winner through Gera. Duff twisted and turned his way past Elokobi on the right wing before curling in an excellent cross to the Hungarian at the far post but his looping header was off target and rolled wide of goal.

Zamora earned a free-kick 25 yards out from goal in stoppage time and took the resulting set-piece but could only fire well wide of goal as Wolves held on to gain an important point in their battle to stay in the Premier League.