The Breakdown | Fulham vs Wolves

#1 Inside both camps

Both Wolves and Fulham will need to do without key players when they clash at Craven Cottage. For the Old Gold, they’ll start a Premier League match without Craig Dawson for the first time this season, after he picked up his fifth yellow card of the campaign against Tottenham Hotspur. His one-match ban opens the door to others, with Santiago Bueno maybe set for a first league start, while Matt Doherty and Hugo Bueno could be other defensive replacements. A change in shape may open the door for Pablo Sarabia, Tommy Doyle or Sasa Kalajdzic, who have staked a claim in recent weeks. Pedro Neto remains out, but is ahead of schedule in his recovery according to Gary O’Neil, while youngsters Joe Hodge and Nathan Fraser are also absent.

Similar to Dawson, Palhinha will sit out Monday’s fixture, having picked up a fifth booking last time out at Villa Park. He’ll likely be replaced by Harrison Reed or Sasa Lukic in the midfield. Forward Rodrigo Muniz will also miss out, while there are doubts over the fitness of Issa Diop and Tosin Adarabioyo. The fixture could, however, provide Raul Jimenez with a first opportunity to face Wolves since departing for the Cottagers in the summer, however he won't be joined by Adama Traore, who has been ruled out through injury. 

#2 Coming into it

Wolves enjoyed a thrilling win two weeks ago and probably felt the international period came at a bad time for them. However, Monday’s Fulham clash represents the start of a glut of fixtures for the Old Gold. Gary O’Neil’s side banished the memory of defeat to Sheffield United in style with their late, late show against Tottenham Hotspur, which saw Pablo Sarabia and Mario Lemina stun Spurs. Wolves have been good on home soil lately, unbeaten in four, but the Bramall Lane loss was a setback on the road. Still, should they win at Fulham, it would better last season’s away win total already, following successes at Everton and Bournemouth so far.

Wolves’ last three | W 2-1 Tottenham (H) – L 2-1 Sheff United – D 2-2 Newcastle (H)

Fulham are winless in four going into Monday’s clash. They were beaten 3-1 at Aston Villa last time out but did have former Old Gold hero Jimenez on the scoresheet for the first time. Last time at Craven Cottage, Manchester United scored in injury time to subject the Cottagers to a 1-0 defeat. Before that, Marco Silva’s side drew at Brighton & Hove Albion and lost at Tottenham. Fulham have won two of their five home games this season, against Sheffield United in October and Luton Town in September, but have yet to score at home outside of those two games.

Fulham's last three | L 3-1 Aston Villa (A) – L 1-0 Man United (H) – D 1-1 Brighton (A)

Our gaffer 🙌

Gary O’Neil picked up the @LMA_Managers Performance of the Week Award for our comeback victory against Spurs 🏆 pic.twitter.com/hFSHmt0EEv

— Wolves (@Wolves) November 24, 2023

#3 Since last time

Fulham 1 Wolves 1 | 24^th February 2023

Wolves and Fulham played out a hard-fought draw at Craven Cottage when they last met back in February. Like last week, Sarabia was on target that night too, firing home a header from Jimenez, who now lines up in white and black. Manor Solomon ensured the Cottagers had their point, however, curling in a fine effort after the break. Sarabia had had an earlier attempt saved by Bernd Leno, while Jimenez headed a second half chance wide, before Solomon struck.

Wolves’ XI | Sa, Semedo, Dawson, Kilman, Bueno, Sarabia, Neves, Lemina, Nunes, Jimenez, Cunha.

Of the Wolves side, Ruben Neves, Matheus Nunes and Jimenez have moved on since. The other eight were in the squad against Spurs a fortnight ago. As for Fulham, all 11 who started that night nine months ago remain at the club, with seven of the 11 starting at Villa Park a fortnight ago. Since then, Jimenez has been joined by Alex Iwobi, Timothy Castagne and Calvin Bassey.

Fulham’s XI | Leno, Tete, Diop, Ream, Robinson, Reed, Palhinha, De Cordova-Reid, Pereira, Willian, Vinicius.

#4 In the media

Mike Taylor, of BBC Radio WM, says Sarabia’s stunning cameo off the bench against Spurs could provide a springboard for his Wolves career.

“Come Monday night, Wolves will have gone 16 days between Premier League games, which is a long time to stay grinning after the astounding finish to the one against Tottenham. It was a plot twist not only in that match, but perhaps also to Pablo Sarabia's whole Wolves career. For a player of his ability, with significant achievements on his CV, his time with Wolves has so far seemed unfulfilling. Until Spurs, that is, when Sarabia seized the moment - and it really was only a few moments.

“Gary O’Neil introduced him with only four minutes left, but the coach deflected the credit for the substitution: “I put him on the pitch because of what he’s shown me in training. That's no masterstroke from me... the fact that he was able to impact it is because of how he’s worked, and the condition he’s in at this moment - mentally and physically.” O'Neil will need all of his squad in the busy midwinter, but perhaps he will turn to Sarabia more readily now.”

Dom Smith of Standard Sport says there have been pros and cons coming out of the Fulham camp in recent weeks.

“Following last season’s 10th–place finish was always going to be tough, and the sale of talisman Aleksandar Mitrovic tempered expectations. But Fulham’s lack of goals has been a bigger problem than expected. Only Burnley have scored fewer than their 10 in the top-flight. Supporters are understandably concerned about the lack of goals and recent form.

“Sunday’s defeat at Aston Villa followed the same script as the draw at Brighton a fortnight ago. Fulham were better in the second half after looking miles off the pace in the first. Marco Silva's team are usually composed in midfield and counter-attack well, but they must start games better. The manager did sign a new contract a few weeks ago, committing until summer 2026, in a huge boost for Fulham.”