Fulham vs Wolves: Late Romain Saiss equaliser sees Claudio Ranieri’s side squander vital three points

Fulham 1-1 Wolves: The Moroccan international’s 85th minute strike cancelled out Ryan Sessegnon’s opener

Wednesday 26 December 2018 10:08 EST
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Romain Saiss scored the equaliser in the 85th minute
Romain Saiss scored the equaliser in the 85th minute (Reuters)

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Fulham squandered the chance of three valuable points in their survival bid after they were held at home by Wolves.​

Claudio Ranieri's side dominated for long spells at Craven Cottage but were wasteful in front of goal until substitute Ryan Sessegnon struck midway through the second half.

They were then six minutes from registering a vital three points when Romain Saiss struck for his first Premier League goal.

Fulham have won just once in seven matches since Ranieri took over, and home games against Wanderers, and then Huddersfield, over Christmas looked pivotal to their chances of becoming only the fourth team in Premier League history to avoid relegation after being bottom at Christmas.

But they could only manage a point in the first of those after Saiss snatched a point for the visitors.

Both sides has decent claims for a penalty waved away by referee Andre Marriner during the first half.

Dennis Odoi appeared to handle a cross in the Fulham area, before Andre Schurrle lifted the ball onto the arm of Wolves defender Ryan Bennett.

The first chance fell to Wolves winger Adama Traore, who cut inside on his right foot but fizzed his shot over the crossbar.

Raul Jiminez then controlled a high ball on his chest, and his knee, before sending an ambitious overhead kick just over the top.

Fulham captain Aleksandar Mitrovic was leading by example in attack, the Serbian seeing his shot bravely blocked by Bennett before heading just wide from a corner.

Ryan Sessegnon put Fulham ahead
Ryan Sessegnon put Fulham ahead (Action Images via Reuters)

Mitrovic then latched onto a low cross from Schurrle but a heavy first touch forced him wide and his angled shot flew over.

His next opportunity arrived midway through the first half, the striker meeting a deep cross from Cyrus Christie with a header straight at Wolves keeper Rui Patricio.

Schurrle, continuing to link up well with Mitrovic, tried a curler from the edge of the area but once again it was too close to Patricio.

With Fulham building up a head of steam Christie played a neat one-two with Aboubakar Kamara before lashing the ball across goal with Mitrovic just unable to get a tough at the far post.

Aleksandr Mitrovic's shot was cleared off the line in the 90th minute
Aleksandr Mitrovic's shot was cleared off the line in the 90th minute (Action Images via Reuters)

Wolves frontman Jiminez remained a threat, though, and his fierce volley had to be beaten away by Fulham keeper Rui Patricio at his near post.

Mitrovic should have opened the scoring five minutes before half-time when he brilliantly skipped past two defenders in the area but Patricio came out quickly to block his shot.

After the break Jiminez headed Jonny Otto's cross straight at Rico and Bennett drilled a long-range effort over the crossbar.

Sessegnon so nearly set up Kamara but Boly just got a foot to the ball before the striker could convert a low cross.

But the youngster made his mark soon after, pouncing at the far post through a crowd of players after Patricio punched Alfie Mawson's header straight to him.

However, Wolves hauled themselves level with six minutes remaining, Saiss on hand to tap the ball home after Helder Costa had attempted to convert Ivan Cavaleiro's cross.

There was still time for Mitrovic to win it for Fulham as he prodded the ball past the onrushing Patricio, but Coady got back to clear off the line

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