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FL
Championship
Feb 24, 2018 at 5.30pm UK
 
WL

2-0

Sessegnon (38'), Mitrovic (71')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Live Commentary: Fulham 2-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers - as it happened

:Headline: Live Commentary: Fulham 2-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers - as it happened: ID:319448: from db_amp
Relive Sports Mole's live coverage as Fulham register a 2-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers in Saturday's Championship fixture at Craven Cottage.

Fulham have moved to within five points of the automatic promotion places with a 2-0 win over Championship leaders Wolverhampton Wanderers in Saturday's clash at Craven Cottage.

Ryan Sessegnon gave Fulham the lead with seven minutes of the first half remaining before Aleksandar Mitrovic doubled the home side's lead in the second half.

Wolves substitute Diogo Jota missed an open goal during the closing stages, but the West Midlands outfit were second best throughout their visit to England's capital.

Read how the match unfolded in West London courtesy of Sports Mole's minute-by-minute updates below.

Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the match in the Championship between Fulham and Wolverhampton Wanderers. We'll get onto the results from earlier today a bit later but first of all, let's see who features in each of the starting lineups...
FULHAM XI: Bettinelli; Fredericks, Kalas, Ream, Targett; McDonald, Johansen, Cairney; Ayite, Sessegnon, Mitrovic

FULHAM SUBSTITUTES: Button, Odoi, Christie, Norwood, Ojo, Fonte, Kamara

WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS XI: Ruddy; Bennett, Coady, Boly; Doherty, Saiss, N'Diaye, Douglas; Cavaleiro, Costa, Bonatini

WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS SUBSTITUTES: Norris, Batth, Jota, Afobe, Gibbs-White, Miranda, Hause

Let's start with the Fulham side, with head coach Slavisa Jokanovic making three changes to the team which started the 1-1 draw with Bristol City. The most notable alteration comes in attack, with Floyd Ayite being brought back into the team in place of Lucas Piazon.
The other two changes come in defence, with Ryan Fredericks and Tomas Kalas coming into the team for Cyrus Christie and Denis Odoi respectively. The pair both feature on the bench, as does former Wolves winger Sheyi Ojo, who spent time at Molineux on loan from Liverpool.
As for Wolves, Nuno Espirito Santo is forced to make a change in his midfield due to the two-match suspension of Ruben Neves. Roman Saiss is handed a recall after recently having to play second fiddle to Alfred N'Diaye.
Nuno has also made the decision to rest Diogo Jota. The Atletico Madrid loanee has started each of Wolves' previous 33 league games this season but he has to make do with a place on the bench this evening. Leo Bonatini comes into the team in his place.
Benik Afobe is forced to wait another game for his first start in a Wolves shirt, while Kortney Hause also makes an appearance among the replacements. The young Englishman has spent just seven minutes on the pitch in Championship matches this season.
The results from the 3pm kickoffs have not gone perfectly for these two sides, but they could have been a lot worse. Derby County dropped points in the race for promotion, while Middlesbrough, Preston North End and Brentford also failed to win.Click here to have a read through all of today's scores.
As far as the table is concerned, Wolves still hold a nine-point lead but that may change if they fail to win this evening, with Cardiff City hosting Bristol City tomorrow.

Fulham still sit in fifth position but the Cottagers can move to within a point of fourth-placed Derby with victory over the league leaders.

PREDICTION! There won't be many moments throughout this season where anyone has backed against Wolves, but I am going to do so here. Fulham head into this game with momentum and with Wolves dropping points in their last two fixtures, we think the Cottagers will go a 12th match unbeaten. Jokanovic's men to win 2-0.
HEAD TO HEAD! Today's match represents the 90th time in which these two sides have faced each other in a competitive contest, with Wolves claiming 42 wins in comparison to 25 victories for Fulham.
It's time for the two teams to make their way onto the pitch at Craven Cottage. Both teams will be hoping that this is a Premier League fixture next season and we expect a game of such quality.
A reminder of the two teams...

FULHAM XI: Bettinelli; Fredericks, Kalas, Ream, Targett; McDonald, Johansen, Cairney; Ayite, Sessegnon, Mitrovic

WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS XI: Ruddy; Bennett, Coady, Boly; Doherty, Saiss, N'Diaye, Douglas; Cavaleiro, Costa, Bonatini

KICKOFF! Wolves get us underway.
It's been a quiet start from both sides, although Fulham have seen most of the ball. Nuno is already up from his seat in the dugout.
Fulham are really slick in possession and Wolves are having to do their fair share of ball watching at the moment.
Just like that, Wolves have a two-on-one with Costa on the ball and Bonatini to his far left. However, Costa only has one idea in his mind and after using his teammate as a decoy, his eventual shot is blocked by a defender.
Wolves are starting to see plenty of the ball but aside from that breakaway out of the blue, they haven't come close to creating a chance. Fulham are very patient in possession. It has the potential to frustrate Wolves.
The first time that Sessegnon gets the ball, you can sense the fear in the Wolves defence. The teenager cuts onto his weaker right foot before seeing his goalbound effort well blocked by a defender.
Wolves are sometimes guilty of overplaying things at the back and it's exactly what Fulham do here. Targett is the guilty party although he was played into trouble by a teammate.
For the second time in this match, Costa breaks clear of the full-back and for the second time in this match, he makes the wrong choice. The Portuguese does nothing here, with the ball eventually rolling into the hands of Bettenelli.
CHANCE! Nearly a goal for Fulham. Cairney's shot is deflected into the path of Mitrovic who flicks a first-time effort over Ruddy. However, Coady is perfectly placed to clear the ball inside the six-yard box.
SHOT! Fulham are starting to knock on the door. Ayite has the next opportunity but drags his low effort from 20 yards wide of the post.
Wolves have had a bit more joy over the last couple of minutes but Fulham continue to have the better of this game. Wolves are struggling to put together anything in the final third.
The visitors have committed a number of fouls in the centre of the pitch over the last five minutes and the referee is looking to put a stop to it. It's nothing too cynical, just over-eagerness.
N'Diaye is running around the pitch like a man possessed, yet is barely seeing any of the ball. The midfielder won't last the 90 minutes at this rate. He was substituted early in Wednesday's draw with Norwich City, too.
Fulham are playing with a very high line and Bonatini is able to capitalise before working the ball to Costa. The winger gets a shot away but after it's deflected into the path of Cavaleiro, the assistant's flag goes up.
SHOT! For the first time in this match, Wolves have a prolonged spell on the ball and it eventually leads to N'Diaye getting a shot away from 25 yards. It's a good effort but the ball goes a yard or so over the bar.
Decent response from Fulham, who work the ball to Targett on the left. The Southampton loanee takes the chance to shoot from 30 yards but the ball is deflected into the hands of Ruddy.
This game is really starting to open up. Bonatini gets down the right flank and pings a low cross towards Cavaleiro who is waiting at the back post, but the pass misses both the defender and Cavaleiro.
We have an even game here but Fulham are definitely winning more of the 50-50s. If they continue to be successful in that area, it may just pay off for them at some stage in the match.
With Fulham playing a high line and looking to use the offside trap, Wolves are looking to take advantage down the flanks and on most occasions, they are only just missing out with a diagonal ball to Cavaliero or Costa.
Wolves get two chances to whip the ball into the area through Douglas and Cavaleiro, but both deliveries are comfortably dealt with by Fulham. Still, Wolves need to get into those areas of the pitch a lot more than they have been doing.
GOAL! Fulham 1-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers (Ryan Sessegnon)
Fulham take the lead. A poor clearance from Bennett leads to Fulham being able to thread the ball through to Mitrovic and although Ruddy makes an excellent save to deny the Serbian, the ball falls to Sessegnon and the youngster can't miss from three yards.
SHOT! Wolves look to hit straight back through Cavaleiro but the Portuguese winger sees a 25-yard strike palmed away by Bettinelli.
Back come Fulham who are not satisfied with a one-goal lead at the break. The Cottagers win a couple of corners and Targett's eventual shot is spilled and claimed at the second opportunity by Ruddy.
Fulham are much the better side now. Cavaleiro concedes a free kick right on the edge of the penalty area and this is danger for Wolves.
SHOT! Johansen attempts to find the near top corner from 25 yards, but the ball goes into the side-netting.
There will be one minute of added-on time but there will be plenty more because Johansen is down having suffered ankle injury.
HALF TIME: Fulham 1-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers
The half-time whistle goes at Craven Cottage and Fulham lead thanks to Sessegnon's late goal in the first half. The home side deserve to be ahead in West London and the league leaders have work to do to get anything from this match.
Sessegnon couldn't miss when the ball fell his way from close range but Wolves will be disappointed with how the ball arrived at the youngster's feet. Ruddy made a fine save from Mitrovic, but Bennett's poor clearance and Coady giving the Serbian too much space led to a shot being taken.
Fulham could have also scored through Mitrovic, who managed to flick the ball over the head of Ruddy before seeing his shot cleared off the line by Coady. The on-loan Newcastle United forward has been a frequent threat to the Wolves backline.
Wolves had their moments in the first half but both of their two best efforts came from distance, with N'Diaye shooting marginally over the crossbar and Cavaleiro forcing Bettinelli into a hurried save to his left-hand side.
The two teams are beginning to make their way back out. I wouldn't be surprised to see Jota introduced before long.
KICKOFF! Fulham get us back underway.
Wolves go straight onto the offensive and Doherty should score with a header from eight yards, only to miss the ball. However, the wing-back was offside anyway, much to his relief.
BOOKING! Targett goes into the book for a cynical tug on Costa on the halfway line.
SHOT! Wolves look on it at the start of this second half. Cavaleiro tries his luck from 25 yards, only to see Bettinelli make the save, before Costa volleys the rebound into the stands from around 16 yards.
Fulham are giving as much as they receive. It would be easy for Fulham to start to drop deep but they are pushing for a second goal. It's even at the start of this second half.
SHOT! This always looked ambitious from Ayite, who drags a 30-yard effort well wide of Ruddy's goal.
Wolves are continuing to have their moments in the final third but the ball isn't falling for them and when they lose it, the space is there for Fulham to surge forward.
Fulham win a free kick and after it is delivered into the area, there are two huge appeals for handball. The second one definitely hit the hand of a Wolves player but it was accidental.
Wolves have really started to press Fulham but even when they force the home side into a mistake, they are doing nothing with the ball. Nuno will surely be considering the introductions of Jota and Afobe.
More of the same from Wolves but I think they may be sidetracked because a double change is about to be made.
SUBSTITUTIONS! It's Gibbs-White and Jota who are going to be introduced, with N'Diaye and Costa the men to make way.
SUBSTITUTION! Fulham make a change as well, with Ojo replacing Ayite.
It remains all very stop-start for Wolves. Their use of the ball has been really poor. I guess we are seeing how much they miss Neves when he doesn't feature in the midfield.
Cavaleiro is claiming for a penalty when he falls over in the penalty area. At first glance, it looked like he tripped over the ball.
BOOKING! Moments later, Douglas goes into the book for a foul on the halfway line. The Scot is now just two yellow cards away from a two-match ban.
GOAL! Fulham 2-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers (Aleksandar Mitrovic)
That's probably game over. Coady can't handle the strength of Mitrovic and after the striker moves closer to goal, the ball is drilled into the bottom corner from 20 yards.
Wolves have certainly not played like a team who are nine points clear at the top of one of the most competitive divisions in world football. It's been an off day for Nuno's side, but this will be the third game without a win.
BOOKING! Boly becomes the second Wolves player to go into the book. Afobe is getting ready to come on.
SUBSTITUTION! Saiss has picked up a knock so Afobe has been brought on. Wolves have switched to a back four with Coady moving into centre midfield.
Douglas is very fortunate to remain on the pitch. Already on a yellow, he was late on the edge of the box and it's a definite yellow.
Less than 10 minutes to go now and Wolves aren't going to mount any kind of late comeback. They've not created anything since going behind.
Wolves have a glimmer of an opportunity when Cavaleiro collects the ball on the edge of the area but the winger tries to do too much and is eventually dispossessed.
CHANCE! This is unbelievable. Afobe takes too long to get a shot away and his shot is blocked, but the forward recovers to set up Jota for what should be a tap-in with Bettinelli out of goal. However, the substitute fires the ball over the crossbar from 10 yards. It's a shocker.
Wolves are improving but it's all too little too late. Some of Nuno's decisions will be questioned today but simply put, his team have not been good enough.
We should point out that this is going to be Fulham's eighth successive home win, with just two goals being conceded. It's an astonishing record at this level.
There will be three minutes of added-on time.
SUBSTITUTION! A late change for Fulham sees Cairney replaced by Odoi.
FULL TIME: Fulham 2-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers
The full-time whistle goes at Craven Cottage and Fulham have eased to victory over a below-par Wolves. Goals from Sessegnon and Mitrovic did the damage either side of half time, and Wolves have now failed to win any of their last three matches. Fulham are now just five points behind second-placed Cardiff City.
That will be all from Sports Mole for this match. Thank you for joining us this evening and we hope to see you again soon.

If you would like to read our on-the-whistle match report, you can do so by clicking here. Goodbye for now.

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