At a glance

  • Wolves fail to win in first 10 Premier League games for second season running

  • Ryan Sessegnon gives Fulham early lead

  • Emmanuel Agbadou sent off in first half for Wolves

  • Harry Wilson and Yerson Mosquera own goal adds to Wolves' misery

  • PLAYER RATER

Wolves' season continued to spiral after Fulham condemned them to another damaging defeat to keep them winless and bottom of the Premier League.

Ryan Sessegnon, Harry Wilson and Yerson Mosquera's own goal ended the Cottagers' four-game losing run, while Wolves' Emmanuel Agbadou was sent off in the first half.

The visitors did little to prove their wretched start would end in west London and have now lost eight of their 10 league games.

There is still belief at Molineux that boss Vitor Pereira can save the season - and a reluctance to sack him - but Wolves are now eight points from safety and being cut adrift.

Fulham piled on the misery when Sessegnon struck early, seizing on a mistake from Santi Bueno, and it got worse when Agbadou was dismissed nine minutes before half-time - after his clumsy foul on Josh King denied a goalscoring opportunity.

The visitors never recovered and Sam Johnstone denied Kenny Tete and Wilson but the Wales winger secured victory, which lifted the Cottagers to 14th, with a fine low finish from 20 yards.

There was still time for Mosquera to turn the ball into his own net with 15 minutes left to add to Wolves' woes, before Samuel Chukwueze hit the bar late on for Marco Silva's side.

Wolves analysis: Loyalty could make Fosun look foolish

Media caption,

Wolves performance 'was not my team' - Pereira

Wolves do not want to part company with Pereira and there is a firm belief they have time to save themselves.

Yet this season now matches the last, where Wolves did not win any of their opening 10 games under Gary O'Neil.

The former manager clung on for another six games and Wolves recognise they kept faith with him for too long before replacing him with Pereira last December.

It is a mistake owners Fosun want to avoid but their faith in Pereira cannot continue indefinitely while Wolves appear doomed and their patience, however admirable, could ultimately make them look foolish.

Already eight points adrift of safety at the foot of the table, there is no comfort in the club's desire for consistency and stability.

Defeats by newly promoted trio Leeds, Sunderland and Burnley came before Saturday's limp loss at Craven Cottage, against a side who started the day 17th.

If the wins are not coming against those who they could rank as relegation rivals - Sunderland aside after their excellent start - then the question is where will the victories arrive?

A disastrous defeat against a relegation rival, including a red card and an own goal, made it a nightmare afternoon.

Fulham analysis: Game the perfect tonic for Cottagers

Media caption,

Early Sessegnon goal helped settle Fulham anxieties - Silva

From the minute Sessegnon capitalised on a Wolves mistake to score there was little doubt in the result.

Fulham needed a pick-me-up after four straight defeats sucked them towards the bottom three and Wolves obliged.

The result did not flatter the Cottagers - it could have been more - and it was precisely the performance which will restore any fractured confidence.

Games against Everton and Sunderland either side of the international break could provide further momentum as Silva's side look to pull away from any immediate danger.

Fulham should have enough to stay clear of the bottom three - they were dynamic enough against a poor Wolves side - but there will be little room for manoeuvre if they slip back to their previous form.

What's next for these teams?

Fulham go to Everton on 8 November before welcoming Sunderland to Craven Cottage after the international break.

Wolves return to London to face Chelsea next Saturday and then face Crystal Palace at Molineux on 22 November.

Where next?

Player of the match

Number: 8 H. Wilson
Average rating 8.07
Number: 8 H. Wilson
Average Rating: 8.07
Number: 24 J. King
Average Rating: 7.97
Number: 22 Kevin
Average Rating: 7.71
Number: 2 K. Tete
Average Rating: 7.58
Number: 7 R. Jiménez
Average Rating: 7.52
Number: 17 A. Iwobi
Average Rating: 7.42
Number: 30 R. Sessegnon
Average Rating: 7.41
Number: 1 B. Leno
Average Rating: 7.36
Number: 19 S. Chukwueze
Average Rating: 7.25
Number: 5 J. Andersen
Average Rating: 7.19
Number: 32 E. Smith Rowe
Average Rating: 7.06
Number: 3 C. Bassey
Average Rating: 7.05
Number: 16 S. Berge
Average Rating: 6.97
Number: 9 Rodrigo Muniz
Average Rating: 6.92
Number: 10 T. Cairney
Average Rating: 6.81
Number: 11 Adama Traoré
Average Rating: 6.07

After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.