Wolves 2 Fulham 0: Quick-fire double maintains hosts' perfect start to season

21 August 2011 16:46
Wolves' impressive start to the season continued as goals from Kevin Doyle and Matt Jarvis earned them victory over Fulham at Molineux.[LNB]Doyle, who had already missed a good opportunity, opened the scoring in the 42nd minute when he collected Jarvis' pass and smashed a shot past Mark Schwarzer.[LNB]Jarvis doubled the hosts' advantage moments later, pouncing after Roger Johnson's header had come back off the woodwork.[LNB] Party time: Wolves celebrate after Matt Jarvis doubled their lead against Fulham[LNB] MATCH FACTSWolves: Hennessey, Stearman, Johnson, Berra, Ward, Jarvis (Kightly 90),Henry,O'Hara,Hunt (Foley 84),Doyle,Fletcher (Elokobi 90).Subs Not Used: De Vries, Ebanks-Blake,Hammill,Milijas.[LNB]Booked: Doyle,Hunt.[LNB]Fulham: Schwarzer,Hughes,Hangeland,Senderos,John Arne Riise, Duff,Etuhu (Sidwell 45),Murphy,Kasami (Dembele 45),Dempsey, Johnson. Subs Not Used:  Etheridge, Kelly, Gecov, Frei,Briggs.[LNB]Booked: Dembele,John Arne Riise.[LNB]Att: 22,657[LNB]Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)[LNB]The result means 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.[LNB]Manager Mick McCarthy stuck with the same starting line-up from the game at Ewood Park, with Steven Fletcher and Doyle leading the attack.[LNB]Fulham boss Martin Jol made four adjustments from Thursday night's 3-0 Europa League win against Dnipro, recalling Andrew Johnson, Dickson Etuhu, Philippe Senderos and John Arne Riise to the team in place of Bobby Zamora - who was not included in the squad - Steve Sidwell, Matthew Briggs and Stephen Kelly.[LNB]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.[LNB] At the other end Karl Henry fired in an effort which Senderos managed to block.[LNB]Damien Duff sent a cross into the area which Andrew Johnson dived to meet but could not make proper contact with.[LNB] In front: Kevin Doyle (hidden) leaves Mark Schwarzer stranded to open the scoring[LNB] Too far: Doyle is booked for removing his shirt[LNB]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.[LNB]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.[LNB]A slip by Richard Stearman then allowed Etuhu to be teed up for a shot which Hennessey got down to save.[LNB]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.[LNB]The Republic of Ireland striker got around Schwarzer to carve out a shooting angle, but blazed his attempt over the bar.[LNB]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.[LNB]Receiving the ball from Jarvis, Doyle skipped away from two defenders, turned and lashed it beyond Schwarzer into the net.[LNB] [LNB] Up for the fight: Fulham's Pajtim Kasami (right) is challenge by Jarvis [LNB] 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.[LNB]Jol made two substitutions at the interval, throwing on Moussa Dembele and Sidwell for Kasami and Etuhu, and shortly after the restart, Duff hit a shot into the ground which bounced wide.[LNB]Battle: Stephen Hunt (left) catches up with Clint Dempsey as Wolves beat Fulham[LNB] [LNB] 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.[LNB]Schwarzer then palmed a fierce strikefrom Hunt over the bar before Fletcher saw a shot deflect wide and O'Hara volleyed too high.[LNB]Flying high: Fulham striker Andy Johnson is denied by Wolves defender Roger Johnson (left)[LNB] [LNB] The hosts' momentum showed no sign of letting up and Fletcher flashed another effort inches wide in the 65th minute.[LNB]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.[LNB]Catch me if you can: Danny Murphy tries to halt the progress of Wolves scorer Kevin Doyle[LNB] [LNB] 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.[LNB]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.[LNB]Tribute: Former Wolves defender Frank Munro is remembered before the match with Fulham[LNB]  Click here for the latest Premier League table, fixtures and resultsClub-by-club guide to all the Barclays Premier League summer transfersAll the latest Wolves news, features and opinionAll the latest Fulham news, features and opinion [LNB]

Source: Daily_Mail