Fulham 3 – 2 Wolves – Canada Boosts

Willian’s stoppage-time penalty grabbed a much-needed three factors for Fulham in a dramatic 3-2 victory over Wolves on Monday Evening Soccer – however visiting boss Gary O’Neil was left perplexed by a string of choices and met with officers after the sport.

O’Neil’s Wolves have been on the incorrect finish of numerous debated VAR calls this season and have now misplaced every of their final two away video games to controversial last-gasp spot-kicks.

Sky Sports activities’ Jamie Carragher known as the newest one “harsh”, after Joao Gomes tripped Harry Wilson. It took a protracted VAR examine to verify the choice after referee Michael Salisbury had initially turned the appeals down – however there was clear contact on the Welshman.

The choice for that incident, although, was certainly one of many complaints O’Neil took up with the officers.

Willian had already overwhelmed Jose Sa with a penalty in the beginning of the half when Nelson Semedo was judged to have caught Tom Cairney – a call Carragher mentioned was worse. In accordance with O’Neil, ref Salisbury later mentioned he would have amended his choice to award the penalty had he been despatched to the display by VAR.

However for the second time within the match Fulham blew their benefit, with Hee-Chan Hwang scoring a penalty of his personal after Tim Ream’s clumsy problem. Nevertheless, there was no second yellow for the centre-back.

O’Neil was additionally miffed that Carlos Vinicius was booked however not despatched off when he pushed his head into Max Kilman’s nostril earlier than Willian’s winner. He says the officers later admitted to him they obtained that decision incorrect too.

Earlier within the evening, Alex Iwobi had given the hosts a quick begin in west London however, after Hwang had hit the bar, Matheus Cunha capitalised on some superb play from Jean-Ricner Bellegarde to go in an equaliser and Fulham’s uncertainty at each ends of the pitch was plain to see.

However a primary win over Wolves within the Premier League at Craven Cottage since 2012 was ultimately secured. Fulham could have been lacking key defensive midfielder Joao Palhinha however Cairney and the standout Iwobi gave them chew and craft within the centre of the park.

There was drama proper till the top, with a late, late handball penalty shout in opposition to Harrison Reed ignored earlier than a strike from Hwang caught the roof of the web. However Fulham discovered a method to recover from the road. Wolves will see the end result in another way.

Fulham boss Marco Silva pumped his fists with delight and a great deal of reduction on the finish of all of it. His facet had did not win any of their final 4 and misplaced their final two however now transfer as much as 14th, stage with Wolves on 15 factors.

O’Neil reveals post-match debate with officers: Ref mentioned first Fulham pen was incorrect

“We discussed a lot of decisions,” O’Neil advised Sky Sports activities when requested about his assembly with Salisbury. “Vinicius should have been sent off for headbutting Max. It’s clear. He headbutts him on the nose but he’s given a yellow.

“Ream ought to have been despatched off for a second bookable offence on our penalty.

“Nelson [Semedo] plays the ball and doesn’t touch Cairney. I’ve watched it back with the referee and to be fair he says he thinks they got it wrong and he should have been sent to the monitor.

“The one on Wilson, we disagree on slightly bit. He thinks there’s sufficient contact there to provide a penalty. I feel it is actually smooth.

“You can argue that two of them could go against us but all four go against us. It’s a tough one for the lads, supporters and myself to take. We’ve been here a lot this season. We didn’t deserve that.”

Carra on the Fulham penalties: Extraordinarily harsh and harsh

Sky Sports activities’ Jamie Carragher on Fulham’s first penalty:

“I think it’s extremely harsh. We speak about wanting the on-field referees to make the decision. There’s no doubt Semedo gets something on the ball. He stands on his big toe.

“You possibly can have a look at numerous completely different angles. I feel it is harsh. I am not a large fan of VAR slowing issues down. We’re speaking a few toe. After the ref has given the choice, VAR have gotten an issue as a result of we’re within the territory of ‘clear and apparent’.

“This phrase ‘clear and obvious’ is a grey area. Different people have different opinions – how far does it have to go before it’s a howler?”

Sky Sports activities’ Jamie Carragher on VAR serving to to provide Fulham’s second penalty:

“Again, it’s harsh. The referee has got a great position, sees it and shakes his head straight away.

“Whenever you sluggish it down it seems worse. Whenever you watch at full pace, just like the ref did from 5 – 6 yards away, it is harsh.

“I think it’s more of a penalty than the first one – but the problem for me is, after the ref doesn’t give it on field, the decision shouldn’t be overturned. That’s my feeling.

“I do not assume it’s a penalty. The ref has a terrific view. VAR thinks that is a transparent and apparent error. I do not see it.”

Silva: Damage-time penalty clear, the opposite two smooth

Fulham supervisor Marco Silva chatting with Sky Sports activities:

“The second one is a clear penalty. The first for us and the one for them were a little more soft.”

How a dramatic evening on the Cottage unfolded…

Wolves had scored and conceded in every of their final 10 matches going into this one and whereas it wasn’t a fixture which instantly screamed targets, that streak had been prolonged inside 22 minutes on the banks of the Thames.

Fulham made a mockery of their latest struggles in entrance of aim with an excellent opener. Willian rolled Antonee Robinson in down the road and the full-back’s low cross was gleefully turned dwelling by Iwobi, who was revelling in his extra superior function. It was his first aim of the season however fourth in 9 matches in opposition to his favorite opponents Wolves.

With Fulham’s tails up and Iwobi creating one other harmful second nearly immediately from the restart, Wolves have been inches away with a pointy response when Hwang cracked an effort in opposition to the bar on the counter. The equaliser wasn’t lengthy coming.

Bellegarde turned Robinson inside out earlier than standing the ball up on the again publish for Cunha to energy in his third of the marketing campaign.

Fulham’s insecurity at each ends of the pitch was on present when Willian hesitated and missed the prospect to transform from Iwobi’s deep cross later within the half and the hosts have been quickly scrambling in their very own field when Toti drilled the ball into the hazard zone. There was then nearly a calamity when Bernd Leno misplaced the ball as he tried to play out below stress from Mario Lemina.

Timothy Castagne needed to produce a sensational piece of defending to stop sub Matt Doherty from handing over on the close to publish from Hwang’s cross in the beginning of the second half – and it proved a decisive second, with Fulham profitable their first penalty simply three minutes later.

Through the lengthy VAR examine it turned obvious Semedo had obtained a foot on the ball however his subsequent contact with Cairney was upheld as a foul and Willian coolly despatched Jose Sa the incorrect method to put Fulham again in entrance.

That aim breathed confidence into Fulham and Iwobi pressured a great cease from Sa as they pressed forwards – however as soon as once more they gave up their benefit. Ream’s clumsy problem on Hwang was deemed to have occurred simply contained in the field by ref Salisbury after which VAR, and the in-form Wolves ahead thumped dwelling the spot-kick for his seventh of his spectacular season. Nevertheless, no second yellow card for the defender materialised.

The drama was removed from over, although, when Wilson tumbled within the remaining minute of regular time. It’s going to deliver again recollections of Fabio Silva’s injury-time foul on George Baldock at Sheffield United for Wolves followers. It was the fifth penalty Wolves have conceded this season and Willian made certain it was punished once more, powering previous Sa, who guessed proper this time.

There was menace of one other late twist, when the ball popped up within the Fulham field and caught Reed’s arm however the remaining whistle introduced reduction and a uncommon victory over Wolves to the house facet – and frustration and anger within the guests’ camp.

What different choices have gone in opposition to Wolves this season?

Wolves have beforehand been on the top of 4 tough VAR calls this time period and O’Neil held talks with referees’ boss Howard Webb earlier this month.

The adjudication staff who overview contentious choices decided that the stoppage-time penalty that helped Sheffield United beat Wolves earlier in November mustn’t have been awarded.

Wolves have been additionally wrongly denied a stoppage-time penalty on the opening weekend of the season once they have been defeated by Manchester United.

In September, Luton have been awarded a controversial penalty as Wolves have been denied victory in a 1-1 draw at Kenilworth Highway. Joao Gomes was adjudged to have handballed a cross, which initially hit his leg earlier than putting his arm.

Then, in opposition to Newcastle throughout a 2-2 attract October, Hee-Chan Hwang was deemed to have fouled Fabian Schar within the field on the stroke of half-time – however VAR refused to intervene.

Silva: We went for the win greater than Wolves

Fulham supervisor Marco Silva chatting with Sky Sports activities: “It’s a really important win for us. We wanted to see a reaction from back-to-back defeats. It was really important for us to minimise the errors. We started really well. I really wanted to see the quality, the intensity. It was the Fulham I wanted to see.

“We would have liked spirit. We all the time tried to win the sport greater than Wolves.”

What’s next?

Fulham journey to Liverpool within the Premier League on Sunday December 3; kick-off 2pm.

In the meantime, Wolves journey to Arsenal on Saturday December 2; kick-off 3pm.