Fulham began their Premier League clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers on the front foot, taking the lead just one minute after kick-off, thanks to Ryan Sessegnon's swift strike. The academy graduate’s goal came from Andreas Pereira's precise through pass, marking Sessegnon's first goal for Fulham since December 2018 when he faced the same opponents.
Sessegnon’s return to Fulham last summer was highly anticipated. After a challenging five-year spell at Tottenham Hotspur, where he struggled for game time, Sessegnon has been cautiously used by Marco Silva this season. Prior to the Wolves encounter, he had only featured eight times for the club. Nevertheless, his impressive start brought quickly back to mind his early potential as he staked his claim for more minutes on the pitch.
Wolves, under the management of Vitor Pereira, were left reeling from the early setback. After achieving a satisfactory win against Bournemouth, Pereira had emphasized the need for improvement within his squad. Yet, the initial moments of the match exposed significant frailties as Fulham capitalized swiftly. The combination of Sessegnon and Rodrigo Muniz stunned Wolves' defense, marking what would be described as one of the worst possible starts they could have imagined at Molineux.
Fans breathed a sigh of relief when VAR confirmed Sessegnon's goal was not offside, though the early intensity from Fulham left Wolves' players visibly shaken. Former Premier League midfielder Andy Reid shared his thoughts on the Wolves' defensive lapses, highlighting, "incredibly poor defending from Wolves. You can’t play such a high line when there is no pressure on the ball. They were trying to play offside three or four yards inside their own half—crazy stuff.” His analysis underscored the urgency for the Wolves' back line to improve immediately.
Despite the shock of conceding so early, Wolves eventually regained their composure. Following Sessegnon's goal, Joao Gomes scored, providing some relief for the home side as they leveled the score. The dynamics shifted, giving Wolves renewed hope of pulling through against the visitors.
Marco Silva, meanwhile, opted for tactical changes, fielding new players such as Jorge Cuenca and Issa Diop. With Sessegnon taking the sidelines to recover, the manager was pleased to see his squad pushing back against Wolves for the rest of the half.
A noted concern for Silva involves maintaining players' fitness, with key players like Emile Smith Rowe sidelined due to injury. Conversely, Pereira’s persistence on demanding improvement from his squad remains apparent. Wolves must bolster their defensive capabilities to stave off relegation worries and establish their dominance at home. The defensive blunder seen at the beginning of the match exemplifies the need for stricter adherence to game plans, particularly as they seek to navigate through the tight leagues.
Looking forward, it is clear the match served as both a statement of intent from Fulham and as yet another warning to Wolves about their fragility. Such weaknesses may influence their campaign significantly, especially if they hope to avoid being embroiled near the relegation zone come May.