In a hard-fought game on Boxing Day, Fulham and Wolves played out a draw.
The result was one that will ultimately disappoint both sides, but could yet prove crucial especially for the Cottagers. Who were the winners and losers?
Winner: Aleksandar Mitrovic
One of the big concerns for Fulham after this managerial change was whether or not Aleksandar Mitrovic would be able to continue his excellent form under Claudio Ranieri. To this point in England, Mitrovic had only played well for Slavisa Jokanovic.
Well, those concerns can now be dismissed. The game against Wolves was the clearest example that Mitrovic will continue to be a juggernaut for Fulham. The Wolves defence found themselves continually steamrollered by the Serb; who won a colossal 12 aerial duels and hammered an impressive 7 shots at goal. It was a sight to see; Mitrovic warring with Wolves.
Aleksandar Mitrovic's game by numbers vs. Wolves:
56 touches
12 aerials won
9 touches in opposition box
7 shots
2 shots on target
2 fouls won
1 chance createdFulham’s very own Juggernaut.
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Mitrovic now has the most shots in the Premier League, highlighting his renewed confidence. He didn’t manage to score, but his presence drew defenders and caused the chaos that led to Fulham’s game-winner and he had an effort scrambled off the line in stoppage time (after mauling three defenders to get a shot off). Fulham just need to get others to step up and charge behind him because in this kind of form, he’s unstoppable!
Loser: Adama Traoré
Charitably, Wolves were pretty average in the first-half against Fulham. A non-event, some might say (albeit one who could have gone in ahead had the referee done their job). Part of the reason for this was the largely terrible display from Adama Traoré.
Traoré is one of the most frustrating players in the Premier League, because he is a player of such obvious and outstanding technical and athletic gifts that his inability to put those to genuinely good use is supremely disappointing.
Sure, he’s a wicked dribbler; his season he has completed 37 take-ons, leaving him joint-fourth in the Premier League. That’s doubly impressive when you realise he has played just 505 minutes (his per-90 take-ons stacks at 6.97, which only Sofiane Boufhal and Kingsley Coman can top, and Coman has played just twice).
But he doesn’t do enough with the ball – particularly today against a weak Fulham defence. That he was hooked at half-time ahead of 18-year-old Morgan Gibbs-White speaks volumes, as does the fact that his replacement Ivan Cavaleiro created Wolves’ equaliser with a magnificently lasered cross that seemed to bend light itself.
Winner: VAR
With just under 15 minutes played Dennis Odoi handballed pretty clearly, leaping into the air to punch the ball out of the sky like Diego Maradona against England in 1986 – blocking a goalbound Wolves header. Yet no penalty was given and the match continued on as though nothing had happened until Ryan Sessegnon put his side into the lead just 15 minutes to play. Had the penalty been given this could have been a procession instead of a hard-fought draw, something VAR would have ensured.
The controversy didn’t end there, with Calum Chambers sliding in, scissoring his legs into into the back of Roman Saiss just before half-time. Only got a yellow but VAR would have surely made the referee aware of the severity of the challenge and the fact that it could have been a red. In fact given Chambers slid hard into Saiss earlier in a tackle that should have earned him a booking but didn’t, the Fulham man should have been off regardless of what the ref thought of the second tackle on Saiss. And VAR would have made it so.
Loser: Huddersfield
Huddersfield started the day second from bottom with a daunting trip to Old Trafford to face a rejuvenated Manchester United. So it was already a pretty bad day for the struggling Yorkshire side. But then Fulham went and won themselves a point against Wolves and moved off the the bottom of the league. The side replacing them there? Huddersfield. And given that they are likely to lose against United and then go away to Fulham themselves in three days, it could be a rough holiday season for David Wagner’s men!
Winner: Ryan Sessegnon
As a 17-year-old, Sessegnon tore the Championship apart with his dynamic displays on the wing. A full-back converted to winger, he drew comparisons with Gareth Bale – but many knew that he had to do it in the Premier League to be confirmed as the truth.
And thus far he mostly hasn’t.
Today, however, he bagged what just might be a critical goal in terms of his own development. His first home goal since last season’s play-off semi-final against Derby and just his second in the Premier League this season. A huge goal made up of pure instinct, the kind of fearless play that will lead the teenager on to great things in the future.
Loser: Calum Chambers
Calum Chambers was excellent two years ago on-loan to Middlesbrough, and he even played well for Arsenal last season as well on the rare occasion he saw the field. It was expected that his loan to Fulham would see him truly start to find his level.
And despite being partnered by his compatriot Alfie Mawson, Chambers hasn’t exactly looked like the stalwart presence he was for Boro. Today against Wolves he was kind of all over the place, spending most of the game careening into opponents with all the focus and discipline of a bull stampeding around the Boxing Day sales. He should have been sent off, and although it would be churlish to blame him for being bisected by Ivan Cavaleiro’s cross on the Wolves equaliser, the fact is that’s another goal conceded that’s cost Fulham a win.
The post Fulham 1-1 Wolves: the major winners and losers as Mitrovic proves he is a defender’s worst nightmare appeared first on Squawka News.
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