Wolves will be eager to continue on their recent upturn in form as they eye a third straight win over Fulham in the Premier League on Tuesday.
Vitor Pereira certainly has had a strong effect since taking over the manager’s role and succeeding Gary O’Neil. Despite a promising start to life in the dugout, the Portuguese tactician did suffer a difficult period. However, their recent results indicate Wolves are on the upward trajectory to beat relegation as they get set to host Fulham at Molineux.
Wolves beat ten-man Bournemouth away from home on the weekend, which ensured a third win in four games, as a Matheus Cunha goal was enough to collect the points. Pereira is hoping for a third straight win and three in a row against Fulham, with the Midlands side beating the Cottagers in the reverse fixture away from home earlier in the season.
Wolves will come into this clash against Fulham with momentum on their side, as Pereira prepares his side for some tough fixtures ahead, including an FA Cup clash with last weekend’s opponents, Bournemouth. There are some crucial clashes with relegation battlers Southampton and Ipswich Town on the horizon. Pereira will want another win in midweek to help the team steer clear of any relegation talk.
Crystal Palace snapped Fulham’s three-game winning run in all competitions with a stellar 2-0 reverse win at Craven Cottage over the weekend. Marco Silva was particularly incensed by his team’s performance as an own goal from defender Joachim Andersen and a second-half Daniel Munoz strike proved enough for the visitors to seal the points.
There is an argument that the result at the weekend was a rare occurrence, given how strong Fulham have been on home turf this season. With 39 points on board, Silva does not want to lose sight of a European place as they are trailing seventh-placed Chelsea by four points as things stand.
Given how well the Cottagers have been playing this season, it is not extravagant to think they are out of contention for a European finish, although there is still plenty of hard work needed in the games ahead. Fulham will hope for a midweek win as Silva will have one eye on the FA Cup clash against Manchester United over the weekend.
Team News & Tactics
Wolves
The win over Bournemouth may have come at a cost, as Rayan Ait-Nouri left the field well before the final whistle. The left-back managed to carry on following Illia Zabarnyi’s red card-worthy challenge but was forced off with 10 minutes to play in the game.
The potential absence of the Algerian international could be problematic for Wolves against Fulham if Rodrigo Gomes cannot return from an unspecified problem that has seen the wide man miss the last two games. In any case, Pereira could call upon teenager Pedro Lima to fill the void.
Wolves have no big changes to their injury situations, with as many as seven players certainly missing from action, including Rodrigo Gomes. On the positive side, Jorgen Strand Larsen made his return from a hamstring problem as a substitute against Bournemouth, and he should be back in contention to claim a starting berth. However, Pereira will have to decide how he views the attacker’s fitness levels.
Pereira could name a similar lineup for the midweek tie compared to the one at the weekend, with the only change coming in at left wing-back as Lima replaces Ait-Nouri. Meanwhile, he might continue with Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, Marshall Munetsi, and Matheus Cunha leading the forward line, as Strand Larsen is likely to feature from the bench once more.
Probable Lineup (3-4-3): Sa; Doherty, Toti, Bueno; Semedo, Joao Gomes, Andre, Lima; Bellegarde, Cunha, Munetsi
Fulham
Marco Silva will be sweating on the fitness report on Emile Smith Rowe and Tom Cairney, with the pair picking up issues during the loss to Crystal Palace at the weekend.
The duo will have to go through a late assessment before determining their place in the matchday squad. Silva is likely to make do without them, especially ahead of the FA Cup clash with Manchester United at the weekend.
Andreas Pereira could replace Smith Rowe in the attacking midfield role, while Silva will continue to go ahead with a midfield double-pivot of Sasa Lukic and Sander Berge.
In the background, Silva will continue with his familiar backline of Timothy Castagne, Andersen, Calvin Bassey, and Antonee Robinson. Up front, Raul Jimenez will continue to lead the line, while Pereira will operate in the No.10 role as Adama Traore and Alex Iwobi provide the width from the wings.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Leno; Castagne, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson; Berge, Lukic; Traore, Pereira, Iwobi; Jimenez
Key Stats
- Wolves are undefeated in all competitions in their last 15 home matches against Fulham.
- Wolves have won their last two Premier League games against Fulham.
- Wolves have scored at least two goals in their last three matches against Fulham in all competitions.
- Fulham have managed just one win on their last nine meetings with Wolves.
- Wolves have lost more Premier League home games than any other non-promoted side so far this season (8). However, they beat Aston Villa 2-0 in their last league match at Molineux, last winning consecutively in March 2024, with the second game back then coming against Fulham. Meanwhile, the Cottagers have won five Premier League away games this season, only winning more in the competition in 2022/23 (7). They have won their last two on the road, last winning three successively in the top flight in April/May 2008 under Roy Hodgson.
Player to Watch
Matheus Cunha
There are plenty of eyeballs on the Brazilian attacker after he continued to showcase his superior form in a team that otherwise lacks the attacking impetus for most parts. Cunha has scored in his last three Premier League games, including the winner against Bournemouth over the weekend, as Vitor Pereira would want the forward to be at his best when taking on Fulham.
Culha will be key to Wolves’ chances of getting as far away as possible from the relegation zone, as Pereira will want more goals from the forward. Cunha is currently on his best form, as he will be the most threatening player for Fulham to handle. Once again, his performance will dictate whether the Wolves will get something out of this clash in midweek.
Prediction
Wolves 2-2 Fulham
Fulham might have lost out to Crystal Palace over the weekend, but the result does not justify the form they had been in before that clash. While Marco Silva will feel a slight loss in momentum, he knows the team has the form to get back into shape and fight for points in midweek.
Wolves will certainly stress on the superior record they have over Fulham, as well as the momentum they have following recent victories. While it is difficult to point out a certain winner from this encounter, it is probable the two teams play out an entertaining draw at Molineux. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-2 stalemate for Tuesday’s game at the Molineux.
