Wolverhampton Wanderers maintained their 100 per cent start to the new season with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Fulham.
Mick McCarthy's side win second game in a row
Wolverhampton Wanderers maintained their 100 per cent start to the new Premier League season with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Fulham at Molineux on Sunday afternoon.
Two late goals in the first half, first from Kevin Doyle and then from Matt Jarvis, were enough for Mick McCarthy's side to gain maximum points in their first home league fixture of the 2011-12 campaign.
Despite making a slow start to the game, Wolves grew stronger in confidence and had a number of chances to increase their tally in the second half.
Fulham too had a few chances but Martin Jol's team failed to provide much spark.
Opening exchanges
In the opening seconds Pajtim Kasami, on his league debut for the Cottagers, made a burst into Wolves' box and unleashed a shot which deflected wide.
At the other end Karl Henry fired in an effort which Philippe Senderos managed to block.
Damien Duff sent a cross into the area which Andrew Johnson dived to meet but could not make proper contact with.
The two players then combined again as Johnson cut the ball back for Duff, whose shot lacked power and was comfortably collected by Wayne Hennessey.
Wolves won a free-kick in a useful position which Stephen Hunt delivered into the danger zone, but Roger Johnson had to slide to keep the ball in and Schwarzer claimed it.
A slip by Richard Stearman then allowed Dickson Etuhu to be teed up for a shot which Hennessey got down to save.
Wanderers went the closest yet just before the half-hour mark when Doyle got the better of Brede Hangeland as they chased a ball over the top.
The Republic of Ireland striker got around Schwarzer to carve out a shooting angle, but blazed his attempt over the bar.
Two quick goals
Schwarzer then leapt across his goal to push away a drive from Jamie O'Hara, but with three minutes of normal time remaining in the opening period, Wolves' pressure paid off as they snatched the lead.
Receiving the ball from Jarvis, Doyle skipped away from two defenders, turned and lashed it beyond Schwarzer into the net.
Jarvis then sent a curling shot narrowly off target before making it 2-0 in first-half stoppage time, tucking away the rebound after Roger Johnson had headed Hunt's cross against the post.
Jol made two substitutions at the interval, throwing on Moussa Dembele and Steve Sidwell for Kasami and Etuhu, and shortly after the restart, Duff hit a shot into the ground which bounced wide.
Wolves were soon on the front foot again, though, with Jarvis slicing the wrong side of the post after Hunt's cross had fallen to him.
Schwarzer then palmed a fierce strike from Hunt over the bar before Fletcher saw a shot deflect wide and O'Hara volleyed too high.
The hosts' momentum showed no sign of letting up and Fletcher flashed another effort inches wide in the 65th minute.
Hunt, who had appeared fortunate to escape with only a yellow card after a wild challenge on Riise, then produced a shot which Schwarzer tipped away.
Fulham looked set to pull a goal back in the 79th minute as Hennessey parried an Andrew Johnson shot to the feet of Clint Dempsey, but Stephen Ward was on hand to avert the danger with a great last-ditch tackle.
Riise then blasted a free-kick wide and the visitors - playing their ninth game of the season due to their exploits in Europe - had little else to offer as Wolves secured three more points.
The result means that Wolves, who triumphed 2-1 at Blackburn last weekend, have recorded back-to-back league wins at the start of a campaign for the first time since the 1998-99 season.
| Wolverhampton Wanderers |
Team Statistics |
Fulham |
| 2 |
Goals |
0 |
| 2 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
| 6 |
Shots on Target |
4 |
| 11 |
Shots off Target |
5 |
| 3 |
Blocked Shots |
2 |
| 7 |
Corners |
8 |
| 7 |
Fouls |
11 |
| 3 |
Offsides |
1 |
| 2 |
Yellow Cards |
2 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 77.3 |
Passing Success |
75.6 |
| 10 |
Tackles |
9 |
| 80 |
Tackles Success |
77.8 |
| 52.5 |
Possession |
47.5 |
| 53.9 |
Territorial Advantage |
46.1 |
