Wolverhampton Wanderers

Mike Taylor
BBC Radio WM reporter

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The spirit of Saturday's resounding win at Fulham is best captured by a moment in added time at 3-1.

Gary O'Neil has just made a group substitution to refresh for the final minutes. Eight Wolves players are within a few strides of Fulham's Harry Wilson as he probes their penalty area with a short pass. Mario Lemina intercepts, but rather than thinking of keeping possession to use up time, he sprints forward, in a direct line towards Fulham's goal. Others join the charge and 80 yards, two passes and 12 seconds later, Wolves have scored again.

This felt like a thrilling escape from tactical norms, but you could conclude that there was an impeccable logic to this, and many of Wolves' other choices at Craven Cottage.

Even before Saturday, Wolves were – with 16 goals in 11 games – scoring at a faster rate than in any of the six full seasons since they were promoted in 2018. They were obviously struggling to defend, even before the injuries that left them with only one fit centre-back. But, at root, the object of the game is not to stop the opposition scoring, but to score more than they do, so when they got a chance they took a punt.

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The plan was no doubt far more nuanced than that, but could never have worked in a team that was not convinced it could. There have been reasonable criticisms this season but, throughout, O'Neil and his players have publicly insisted their belief in themselves and each other to improve is unshaken. Saturday's performance, and approach, supported those claims.

It helps, obviously, to have a forward in such inspirational form as Matheus Cunha, but he could not have operated alone. He combined effectively with Rodrigo Gomes, Jorgen Strand Larsen and, in particular, Joao Gomes. Lemina, out of position, had arguably his most influential game of the season, both defending and creating.

There is much still to do. Wolves' position remains perilous and their playing resources limited. They still have many more points to gain to fortify themselves against another run of tough fixtures in midwinter.

There were unusual circumstances for the Fulham game, with so many defenders missing, but they found a method that might serve them well. Necessity breeds invention, but this leading-with-the-chin style, backing their strengths, shows promise.

Craig Dawson and Santiago Bueno might, said O'Neil, be ready to play next weekend - "But," he grinned, "it's a tough team to get in now!"

Listen to full commentary of Wolves v Bournemouth at 15:00 GMT on Saturday on BBC Radio WM (DAB Black Country)

Tune into The West Midlands Football Phone-In from 18:00 on weeknights.

Henry Brownsey
BBC Sport journalist

As Ed Sheeran made some headlines this week.

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Manchester United fans hope Ruben Amorim will be 'The Man' but he was hoping for more points than just 'One'.

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Leicester are looking for a 'New Man' as Cooper's reign lasted 157 days.

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Wolves' ended their 'Bad Habits' with their first away win since February.

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Tottenham achieved a nearly 'Perfect' performance and an even better 'Photograph'.

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Liverpool fans wonder what life could be like without the 'Shape of You'.

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Despite Alexander Isak not asking the Newcastle fans to 'Give me Love' they clearly showed that they 'Remember the Name.'

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And the Toon Army will be hoping Monday's loss was just a 'Small Bump'.

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Dazzling Dave
Fan writer

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When I heard on Saturday morning that Santi Bueno and Craig Dawson were unavailable, I braced myself for the worst. But what unfolded at Craven Cottage turned out to be a surprisingly enjoyable afternoon.

While the spotlight was on Matheus Cunha, Mario Lemina also deserves plaudits for his remarkable performance. Typically known for his role at the heart of midfield - breaking up play, making powerful tackles, and threading creative passes - Lemina found himself stepping in at centre-back. And he excelled in the role.

Lemina led by example, defending tirelessly to shield Jose Sa's goal while driving the team forward with composure. His leadership and adaptability were on full display as he seamlessly transitioned into the makeshift defensive role, looking like a natural in the position.

In his post-match interview, Cunha cheekily suggested Lemina should play centre-back more often, and it is hard to disagree. The performance was reminiscent of Nuno Espirito Santo's decision to transform Conor Coady from a midfielder into a ball-playing centre-back - a shift that became pivotal for Wolves. Similarly, Lemina showcased his ability to distribute the ball creatively from deep, including a sumptuous assist for Cunha's first goal.

Special mentions must also go to Andre and Joao Gomes, who both put in tireless shifts. Their energy contributed to the defensive improvement and also added flair to some slick attacking play, offering a much-needed boost after recent struggles.

What stood out most at Craven Cottage, however, was the team's collective spirit.

For Wolves fans, there is nothing more important than seeing a team fighting for the badge. When players show commitment and passion, they earn something priceless from the fans - love and loyalty.

Raul Jimenez received a heartfelt reception over the weekend, a reminder of what that bond means. If the current squad continues to perform with this kind of grit, a few more heroes will surely emerge.

Thanks to this unity and determination, Wolves now find themselves outside the relegation zone and Gary O'Neil might just be orchestrating an incredible escape.

Find more from Dazzling Dave at Always Wolves, external

New Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim is keen on Wolves wing-back Rayan Ait-Nouri. (Sun), external

United are also monitoring Wolves forward Matheus Cunha, with Tottenham also showing interest. (TBR Football)

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

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We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Fulham and Wolves, which the Old Gold won 4-1.

Here are some of your comments:

Fulham fans

SJLM2: Embarrassing. Unbelievably poor against a side hungry for a win and who deservedly earned it. After a decent start to the season we are now starting to pay for the lack of an out-and-out striker and with Harry Wilson on the bench we are hardly helping ourselves. The defending was woeful, we MUST be better in the January window.

Rosie: Woeful. Must be one of the worse defeats at home for a long time.

Adam: We looked sluggish, and our main enemy this season of a blunt attack came back to bite us again - only this time it was coupled with a shaky defence, sloppy midfield and panic mentality. Fair play to Wolves though, they were excellent. Hopefully it's a one-off and we'll still finish top half. Silva needs to find some goals, and quick.

David: First quarter of the match was a good performance by Fulham but as soon as Wolves scored (against run of play) it started to go wrong and I felt like we could lose it. Using all five subs was a gamble but, in truth, I believe we would not have fared any better with 11.

Wolves fans

Malcolm: A tremendous win. Despite going behind the players worked hard and showed their commitment to Gary O'Neil. Cuhna and Lemina led the pack and the Brazilian has been one of the Premier League's star players over the first 12 games. Hopefully he doesn't follow Neves, Kilman and Neto out of the club any time soon.

Mike: Brilliant result with a patched-up defence. Wolves were very much the better team in the second half and Cunha is a special talent. With the players we have we should not be in a relegation battle. Hopefully we can bring in an experienced central defender in January and look forward to mid-table at least. Trust Gary to get the job done.

Simon: Well that's not the result I expected. But it's the type of result this team, on paper, should be producing. Is it coming together like Gary said? Not sure... ask me again at Christmas.

Callum: Great performance from Wolves. After a tough run of fixtures I believe we can now push up the table with the games we have coming up. Mateus Cunha showed his class once again, this guy will keep us in the league. Gary O'Neil made the right subs again in the second half. After two wins from two, the squad's morale has been boosted. Trust me.

Laura Kenyon
Final Score reporter at Craven Cottage

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A tale of two managers.

The contrasting expressions on Marco Silva and Gary O'Neil's faces upon full time told the entire story.

O'Neil beaming like a Cheshire cat, fist pumping the away end, having secured an emphatic and pivotal first league win away from home.

Silva the opposite as TV cameras zoomed in on his pensive, gloomy disposition. Had his tactical decision cost Fulham the game? All substitutions used up at 71 minutes before Joachim Andersen limped off and did not return. A goal down but time on the clock and hopes of a result still very much alive… until you are forced to see those ticking minutes out with 10 men.

Silva is so often heralded for tactical genius, his recent use of Harry Wilson and the midfielder's subsequent late goals off the bench serve as an example.

But how the managerial pendulum swings. Two managers, two differing approaches to substitutions and two very different endings to this tale.

Chris Collinson
BBC Sport statistician

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Only four players have been involved in more goals than Matheus Cunha in the Premier League this season.

He has the most goals and assists among players outside of the 'big six'.

Highlights and analysis from Saturday's seven Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest

• Manchester City 0-4 Tottenham

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Wolves manager Gary O’Neil, speaking to Sky Sports: "It’s probably one of my favourite performances in my time as a coach. We knew this was going to be a really tough test with the players we were missing.

"It wasn’t as if we nicked a win today – I thought we were good value. It’s something that the players deserve. We’ve had a really good response to a tough afternoon at Brentford.

"The first goal was straight off the training ground. Obviously it’s great quality from Matheus, but it’s something we work on a lot. It was a really composed performance without the ball. It’s important we take that forward with us."

On Matheus Cunha: "I love him, I love working with him. The improvements he’s made are just incredible. When I came, there was an incredible, undeniable talent, but [he was] someone who didn’t know how to make [the most of] it. We get him in some great spots now.

"He’s a great guy. It’s probably his best out-of-possession performance for us. He fitted into our structure very well, led from the front and brought some incredible quality to the game."

On Mario Lemina: "I thought he was excellent. It was an excellent centre-back performance. He has the tools to play there. We did a bit of work with him yesterday, but it was a really top performance. It feels wrong to speak too much about individuals, but Toti [Gomes] is another one. [Goalkeeper] Jose Sa is another one. There are some really good stories."

Matthew Howarth
BBC Sport journalist

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Things were looking bleak for Gary O’Neil after his team’s shambolic display at Brentford last month, but back-to-back wins for the first time since February suggests Wolves are gradually starting to gather momentum.

O’Neil’s cause in west London was not helped by the absence of Santiago Bueno and Craig Dawson through injury and illness respectively, meaning Mario Lemina had to deputise in a makeshift back four alongside Nelson Semedo, Toti and Rayan Ait-Nouri.

The Moroccan did not cover himself in glory when he lost possession cheaply in the build-up to Alex Iwobi’s first-half opener, but other than that Wolves coped well without their first-choice defenders and, in Cunha, they have a player in a rich vein of form.

The Brazilian has now been involved in 26 goals in his past 29 league starts, with 17 goals and nine assists.

He has also registered 13 top-flight away goals since the start of last season, second only to Erling Haaland’s tally of 17.

O’Neil celebrated enthusiastically in front of the away fans at full time and, with five games coming up against teams in the lower reaches of the Premier League table, the future is starting to look a little brighter for the 41-year-old and his players.

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Wolves have won successive Premier League games for the first time since February 2023, while this is their first win in the competition when conceding first since a 4-2 victory at Chelsea the same month.

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Fulham's performance, external

What did you make of Wolves' display?, external

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

Seven matches make up Saturday's Premier League action, and we will bring you every moment.

• Leicester v Chelsea - 12:30

• Bournemouth v Brighton

• Arsenal v Nottingham Forest (listen on BBC Radio 5 Live)

• Aston Villa v Crystal Palace

• Everton v Brentford

• Fulham v Wolves

• Man City v Tottenham - 17:30 (listen on BBC Radio 5 Live)

Kick-offs 15:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League games this season, against a variety of guests.

For week 12 he takes on The Farm singer and Liverpool fan Peter Hooton.

The Farm's new single, Forever & Ever, is out now and their new album, Let The Music (Take Control), is released in May 2025.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

Wolves got their first win of the season when they beat Southampton before the international break. Matheus Cunha has started scoring and, when I look at their squad, I do think they are good enough to stay up.

I am not backing them here, however. Fulham are flying and regular readers will know I am a big fan of them when they play at home.

Emile Smith Rowe has looked really bright since joining Marco Silva's side and I am expecting more of the same from him, plus I would not be surprised if Fulham striker Raul Jimenez had a say against his former club.

Hooton’s prediction: 2-1

Wolves have got Cunha scoring again and Jimenez is doing the same for Fulham. If they both play then it is going to be very close, but with Fulham being the home team, I am going with them to edge it.

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Gary O'Neil spoke for just over half an hour at Compton on Friday, fielding questions on momentum, emulating Saturday's hosts Fulham and their recent success.

None were on his position at Wolves - it would have been futile as it has been discussed and there is nothing else for the manager to say.

Nothing has changed at Molineux. In an ideal world, they do not want to make a change - especially following the show of faith of a new contract in August.

O'Neil played down the importance of the next six games, insisting he did not know the fixture list after the visit of Bournemouth next weekend, but is it not a stretch to suggest they are season-defining.

Everton, West Ham, Ipswich and Leicester come immediately after the trip to Craven Cottage and the game against the Cherries.

All are within reach and points must be taken if Wolves are going to head into the New Year with a realistic prospect of survival.

First, though, comes Fulham on Saturday with Wolves second bottom in the Premier League.

The danger of falling into a trap is obvious and it happened at Brentford in October, when Wolves still came unstuck even though playing a side not expected to challenge for the top four after their tough opening fixtures.

Fulham and Bournemouth may not be in the title race but the Cottagers are fifth in the form table over the past 10 games, while the Cherries are second if it is reduced to the past six matches.

O'Neil drilled his players to ensure the mistakes at Brentford did not happen again and, after a heartbreaking loss to Manchester City, they are unbeaten in three.

That run needs to extend. Wolves have no room for manoeuvre and, regardless whether O'Neil knows the fixtures or not, results in the next month are likely to decide whether he has a future at Molineux.

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Boss Gary O'Neil insists Wolves are still "stabilising" as they try to plot their way to Premier League survival.

The sales of Max Kilman and Pedro Neto in the summer raised almost £100m but Wolves were unable to reinvest all of it in the squad.

Last summer, they also sold Ruben Neves and Matheus Nunes to comply with Profit and Sustainability rules and even then only managed to just avoid punishment.

O'Neil was asked about emulating Saturday's hosts Fulham, who are seventh in the Premier League, but he tempered expectation as Wolves continue to find a balance between spending and surviving.

He said: "We are still trying to stabilise. After that comes the progression. We are still in that spell where we are trying to stabilise. Discussions around the progression of the club will come later on.

"The focus is on the short term and making sure we are able to be competitive and pick up enough points. Hopefully in the future we are able to progress the club."

Wolves are unbeaten in three games, beating Southampton and drawing against Brighton and Crystal Palace, and O'Neil recognises the importance of maintaining the momentum they have.

He said: "I was really pleased with the performances. We had some tough opponents. We took Liverpool to the wire, should have taken something off Newcastle and were the better side at Aston Villa for a long while.

"At Brentford [a 5-3 defeat] we fell below the level and there was a lot of work done to work out what we needed to do. We have tried to do that over the last few weeks and it's helped us.

"There is still room for improvement. We are in a decent moment, as strange as that sounds given where we are in the league, especially the pressure from the two home games [Southampton and Crystal Palace]."

Nicola Pearson
BBC Sport journalist

Wolves boss Gary O'Neil has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Fulham (kick-off 15:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• O'Neil confirmed there are a "few [players] to check" following the international break but added: "I'm confident we will be able to name a strong team. I don't want to give too much away but I'm hopeful that we will be fine."

• On being able to follow Fulham's footsteps after losing key players in transfer windows: "Wolves is a fantastic club, but we are still trying to stabilise at the moment. After that comes progression - but we are not there yet. We are still trying to stabilise and be in a good spot week to week. Discussions on where we want to progress to will come but focus is on the short term being competitive."

• He praised Fulham's recruitment strategy and "excellent coach" Marco Silva, adding: "He has had a lot of time there but used it well. They have a good style and understand what they do. Players they recruit fit excellently and they have had a good transition since the Championship. It will be another real test."

• Having started on the bench since coming off at half-time against Manchester City, O'Neil said "it is just one of those moments" for midfielder Andre and that he "still works hard, still shows quality and is still adapting". He added: "He is going to have a big impact on the team [in the future]."

• On whether the Brentford defeat was a turning point in their season: "Interesting season for us so far in the journey, not results. Performances I was so pleased with at the start. We had tough opposition with Liverpool, Newcastle and Aston Villa, but some really good performances. For some reason, at Brentford, we fell way below the level, but a lot of work has been done to figure out what we needed to to do to get points from games."

• He added: "There is still room for improvement and it will be a tough test against Fulham. But we are in a decent moment, as strange as that sounds, with where we are in the league."

• On their increased resilience after a clean sheet against Southampton: "We need to find the right blend. We look like scoring goals. Wolves used to struggle for years in that area, now we always look like scoring. It's trying to find that right balance and making sure we are solid enough. We don't want to take away from being an attacking team."

• On switching goalkeepers: "I have been pleased with Jose [Sa] and his response to Sam [Johnstone] coming in and being on the bench for a few weeks... There may be extreme circumstances where I think one is better than the other for a certain game but it is not a position I want to keep flipping. It is too extreme to keep flipping goalkeepers."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

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BBC Sport pundit Nedum Onuoha gives us his insight and opinion every fortnight on your Premier League club but this week he's in the hotseat answering your questions.

Dan asked: The players and coaching staff have stayed united despite a very bad run of form since about March. Do you think this will be what’s needed to stay up by keeping things consistent, or will it lead us to a delusional relegation if things don’t change?

Nedum replied: That is a great question. A sense of unity will always give you a chance, especially when people are all pulling in the same direction. At times you can fall out of form but that's when you really see what the clubs are like.

Other teams who have faced similar have found themselves with in-team fighting and falling-outs - but that doesn't seem to be the case at Wolves. They are not in crisis.

So, because of that, I don't think the team and staff are being delusional. Sometimes you just need belief because you know you have the quality and that might have come from their first win of the season over Southampton.

Harmony through disappointment is so important because it shows they are happy to work hard to break the situation they are in now. That is what makes a difference.

Nedum Onuoha was speaking to BBC Sport's Katie Stafford

Former Manchester United interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy is keen to stay in the Premier League amid potential managerial opportunities at Wolves, Southampton and Crystal Palace. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Mike Taylor
BBC Radio WM reporter

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When Raul Jimenez left Wolves, there was great mutual affection between him and the fans, and some sadness that his best days appeared to have been cut short in such an unfortunate way.

He really had been a fine attacking leader in the best period of Wolves' recent history and was a popular, genial figure. It was hard for everyone, and no doubt hardest for Raul himself, that after all his struggles to recover from his dreadful head injury in November 2020, his peak form would not return.

It was therefore greatly uplifting watching Fulham's recent game against Aston Villa, to find that the peak-Jimenez was back - rattling defenders, racing onto chances and, most of all, obviously relishing the contest. Those who cheered him in his Wolves days will be thrilled for him too, but this week are probably queasy at the idea he might prove to be a very challenging opponent on Saturday.

Wolves took a long time to adequately replace him. There have been some failed auditions and some alternative approaches. Matheus Cunha has turned out to be a fine player, but not best as a number nine. Sasa Kalajdzic might have been the answer but suffered dreadful luck. Diego Costa was fun, but only ever passing through.

At last, to some relief, Wolves signed Jorgen Strand Larsen last summer. Tall and strongly built, with a promising record and a similarly affable manner to Jimenez - he looks the part.

It has not been an easy start in a struggling team - admittedly not one struggling to score goals. Larsen has plugged away willingly, although it has sometimes seemed like a lonely trudge, and he has often left the scene midway through the second half, visibly spent. Still, four goals is not a bad return in a team near the bottom, and his hard yards will have eased the physical pressure on others, perhaps Cunha most.

This weekend's game at Fulham offers the chance of a direct comparison, although a slight distraction from the main story. The key issue from the first part of the season is that Wolves' leaky defence will sink them unless the holes are plugged.

They held firm against Southampton for a long-awaited clean sheet, despite - as Gary O'Neil explained - Craig Dawson and Santiago Bueno labouring through with injuries. Patched up or not, if they can hold off the resurgent Jimenez and company this weekend, things may be looking up.

Listen to full commentary of Fulham v Wolves at 15:00 GMT on Saturday on BBC Radio WM (96.6 FM)

Tune into The West Midlands Football Phone-In from 18:00 on weeknights