Both teams came into the match sitting comfortably in midtable with the knowledge that a win would give them an outside chance of European qualification.
Fulham were travelling to Wolverhampton having gone winless in 17 visits – their last victory coming back in 1985.
Wolves were coming off the back of a disappointing loss away to Newcastle United but Gary O’Neil’s men have won their next PL fixture after each of their previous four defeats this season, but it was the away side who edged proceedings in the first half.
Wolves goalkeeper José Sá was called into action early on as he pushed away an effort from Andreas Pereira. Fulham should have taken the lead before the half-hour mark as Alex Iwobi played Harry Wilson through on goal but the Welshman, one-on-one with Sá, failed to hit the target as he drove his effort wide of the post.
Marco Silva would have been frustrated his side didn’t go into HT with the lead after that chance and he was further angered after Tosin Adarabioyo was picked out in the box by Harrison Reed but the centre-back, with the goal at his mercy, smashed the crossbar.
A disappointing half for Wolves was compounded just before the break as Molineux was brought to silence after star man Pedro Neto pulled up with what looked to be a hamstring injury and was forced off.
Despite suffering a double blow in the first half, Wolves came flying out after the restart, dominating the early stages and making it count as they opened the scoring in the 52nd minute.
A set-piece to the back post was picked up by Toti Gomes, who squared the ball to Rayan Aït-Nouri to fire home. Fulham boss Silva almost immediately turned to his bench, bringing on Tom Cairney and Willian.
However, the changes didn’t have the effect the Portuguese boss would have wanted as the home side doubled their lead soon after.
João Gomes picked up the ball on the edge of the box but instead of shooting, he deceived the Fulham defence by backheeling to Nélson Semedo, whose shot deflected in off Cairney for an own-goal.
Iwobi pulled a goal back in stoppage time but it was too little, too late for the London outfit, who sit in 12th place, six points behind their opponents, who rise to eighth, one point behind West Ham United in the UEFA Europa Conference League spot.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Rayan Aït-Nouri (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
