Player Ratings: Fulham 3-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers

The player ratings are in for Fulham’s home victory over Wolves.

Fulham returned to winning ways in the Premier League with a comfortable victory over bottom-of-the-table, 10-man Wolves. This felt like the exact sort of game you needed at your home ground after such a worrying run of form and Marco Silva’s side took advantage against relatively poor opposition. Following it up with another performance and result away to Everton next week is essential.

Bernd Leno

Just one of those where it’s near impossible to judge somebody who was tested so little. The one real save Leno was forced into was a tame Jorgen Strand Larsen header in first half stoppage time, which fell into his hands. The one positive I noticed was how well he commanded his box aerially when the game was still 11 v 11 and Wolves posed some sort of threat. Without doubt the German will feel relieved to get a clean sheet under his belt. 6.5/10

Kenny Tete

Goodness me it’s so clear the difference in quality between Tete and Castagne. Not only is he unbelievably good at one-on-one defending as we know, but his technical play away from defence is so far superior. Some of the touches he made to relieve pressure or keep an attack flowing on the right touchline were sumptuous. The attacking runs he makes are tenfold compared to what Castagne offers and allows him to get into positions where he’s taking meaningful strikes from distance to trouble Sam Johnstone or play in dangerous crosses from the byline. A real quality performance on his return from injury. 8/10

Joachim Andersen

I actually thought before Wolves went down to 10 men they had every chance to equalise simply because Andersen looked a yard off the pace. Twice the ball went over his head where he had anticipated a long ball poorly and thankfully both times Munetsi and Strand Larsen failed to pounce on the opportunities posed to them. In the second half, Andersen settled for sure, however the frequent attempts to play the long ball across to Kevin despite them being frequently won by Wolves’ wing back was frustrated, only three of his 13 attempted long balls successful here, which is well below the Dane’s high standards. 5.5/10

Calvin Bassey

An improvement on recent weeks considering there were no real errors to speak of. Made a couple of decent recovery tackles in the first half as Wolves attempted to counter and all round was defensively sound. Still just looks a shadow of himself in possession. Didn’t dribble the ball out of defence once despite coming up against a side low on confidence who were weak pressing with ten men. Every opportunity to pass forward was met with hesitance too. Hopefully a simple win and a clean sheet breeds confidence in Calvin. 6/10

Ryan Sessegnon

He benefited so much from Wolves’ deep defending as it allowed him so much freedom to venture forward and try runs either around the wing back or inside the centre backs. Despite misplacing some passes in promising areas in the first half, some of the things he was attempting showed a player full of confidence and belief in his own game which is vital after his time at Tottenham. Massively involved in the win with a beautifully controlled finish for the first and the all important cross which went in off Mosquera for the third. 7.5/10

Sander Berge

More positive signs from Berge today to carry on the positive momentum from his showing at SJP last weekend. Some of the passes he played in between Wolves’ midfield and defensive lines, and even some in behind for Raul and Wilson to run onto, were absolutely sublime and something we’ve craved from Berge for months. Even had some form of involvement in the second goal, with his shot eventually falling for Harry Wilson to fire in. Absolutely needless, lazy yellow card late on was the only real negative. 7/10

Alex Iwobi

Needs to play in the number eight position next to Berge or Lukic every week going forward. He just seems to pose so much more of a creative threat centrally where he can see more of the game in front of him, and his five key passes here proved that once more, including a beautiful reverse pass to Sessegnon in the build up to the third. His work rate is unrivalled in that position too, willing to pick the ball up from either flank or from the centre backs and showing a frequent willingness to track back. He made this midfield position his own at Everton and now has to do the same at Fulham amidst our creativity worries in the middle of the park. 7.5/10

Harry Wilson

I actually thought he had a typical ‘game of two halves’ performance here. First half I thought he looked rusty and predictable, constantly cutting inside and losing the ball when other options were available whether it be running down the line or a simple pass. Was also very lucky that a lazy backheel in second half added time didn’t lead to us conceding after it started a dangerous Wolves attack. In the second half, he completed more crosses than anybody, scored a sublime second goal and nearly added another from range shortly after, showing what he is actually capable of but needs to do more consistently. 6.5/10

Josh King

Even in a relatively quiet game from the teenager, he made his presence known in the game. His willingness to both move his body in to control the ball and then beat Agbadou to the ball to force the red card was a superb individual passage of play. Won quite a few free kicks in the first half from some cute touches and spins around the final third to show his quality. Still think he just needs to get a bit stronger in his duels, but that will come as he fills out I’m sure. 6.5/10

Kevin

Unsurprisingly made more dribbles than anybody on the pitch and my goodness is it exciting to watch. He has so many tricks up his sleeve and such a natural ability to go both ways that he makes life so difficult for any defender he comes up against. Feels like one goal or a special assist and he’ll start flying in terms of goal contributions. Also loved his willingness to track back and support Sessegnon in defensive positions. 7/10

Raul Jimenez

I said recently that despite a lack of goals I think Raul’s playing his best football and he proved it here. Even if he isn’t seeing the ball much, he’s impacting the game when it does come to him. With one instinctive touch he had set Sessegnon through on goal for the first. His clever run and retrospective pass set the ball in motion for the second, too. He is the class act in this side and if those around him find their creative boots he’ll be back amongst the goals too, for sure. 7/10

Substitutes

Emile Smith Rowe

Played the last 20 minutes coming on for King, and was really impressive, I thought, even if it was against ten tiring men. Just seemed to get on the ball absolutely everywhere, was more than happy to make constant driving runs into the box and it was one of those that caused the Wolves defenders to get in a muddle and concede the third. 7/10

Rodrigo Muniz

Didn’t really get the chance to capitalise on an open final 20 minutes when he came on in place of Raul. Had one attempt at an ambitious overhead kick from 20 yards and another curling strike that was blocked from a similar range, but not much more than that to report on. 6/10

Tom Cairney

Came on for Kevin at the same time as ESR and Muniz, moving Iwobi out wide. Put in a belting sliding challenge as soon as he came on which vitally set an attack off for the third goal. Like Smith Rowe, just mightily impressed at the energy Cairney had to get around the pitch and frequently arrive on the edge of the box with great timing. 6.5/10

Samuel Chukwueze

Only got 15 minutes in place of Wilson but again he just looks like an unbelievably exciting winger. He looks fearless in possession and gets everywhere across the frontline with such a willingness to support the attackers around him. So unlucky not to score at least one, if not two. One effort smashed the post as he was falling backwards from six yards, while another jinky run in between Wolves’ defence ended with a strike that went narrowly wide of Johnstone’s post. Our attacking options are so exciting. 7/10

Adama Traore played for about five seconds in place of Iwobi so can’t be rated.

Marco Silva

Felt more positive from the off with the lineup he chose. Now he’s seen the potential of playing Iwobi in the middle next to a more defensive midfielder, he simply has to stick to it. We carry so much more of a creative threat with Iwobi through the middle, if he reverts back to Berge and Lukic next week there will be uproar. Thought we could’ve been more aggressive directly after the red card but ultimately the shackles came off in the second half and we won comfortably. Just like he has once or twice this season, I liked Silva going back to his tried and tested 4-4-2 out of possession with King pressing high with Jimenez. Keep these aggressive, less negative tactics going and the worries from the fans will minimize. 7/10