The nightmare of Wolves’ season continued at Craven Cottage as another heavy loss was inflicted on Vitor Pereira’s side by Fulham.
The story of the game was Emmanuel Agbadou seeing a red card in the first half, leaving Wolves with 10 men and a one-goal deficit.
That deficit would only widen, ending 3-0 and sending fans home with a familiar feeling.
Even more so than usual, it’s difficult to find the positives. This game has bettered the prospects of one Wolves man, but it’s mostly losers after Saturday’s action.
Biggest losers for Wolves against Fulham
Emmanuel Agbadou
An obvious one.
It really felt like Pereira should start Agbadou against Fulham after he grabbed two assists against Chelsea. When his name was on the team sheet, there were no protestations. Getting the Ivorian on form was and still is huge for Wolves’ survival hopes.
But he wouldn’t make it to half time, earning himself a red card for a foul on goal-bound Josh King. Not the return to the starting XI he would have wanted.
Jorgen Strand Larsen
Strand Larsen was meant to take the mantle of talisman this season after Matheus Cunha departed for pastures new, but he’s still waiting on a first Premier League goal not earned from the penalty spot.
He looked unthreatening for the most part, and couldn’t get a connection on the one big chance that fell his way. Injuries bought the Norwegian some time to hit his stride, but he needs to step up his game with Tolu Arokodare waiting in the wings.
Sam Johnstone
Conceding three goals is never a good look for a goalkeeper. That’s now eight conceded in his last three outings, but it’s not reflective of Johnstone’s quality, or even his form.
Fulham peppered the Wolves goal with 17 shots, six of them on target. Maybe he could have got a hand to Sessegnon’s opener, but it was an awkward low shot. The other two can’t be pinned on the Englishman.
Jose Sa conceding four during the week should ease the blow.
Biggest winners for Wolves
Vitor Pereira
We don’t know what the fallout of this loss will be, but Agbadou’s dismissal certainly hasn’t harmed Pereira’s prospects.
A loss on even footing looks markedly worse than one where Wolves were a man down for the majority. The lineup was controversial again, and Wolves fans sent a clear message to Pereira that they weren’t happy with certain selections.
Marco Silva hailed Andre and Joao Gomes’ quality ahead of the tie, and they should really be considered undroppable. Their omission was baffling.
But the point stands. Pereira would have been worse off if Wolves were at full strength. That’s not to say he’ll be on the sideline next weekend, but it helps his chances. Whether you see that as a good thing or a bad thing…