Wolves go four points clear as Saïss and Bonatini strikes sink Fulham
Impressive Wolverhampton Wanderers moved four points clear at the top of the Championship after cruising past a limp Fulham side.
First-half goals from Romain Saïss and Léo Bonatini sealed a comfortable win for the hosts, who tightened their grip on the promotion race.
The Wolves manager, Nuno Espirito Santo, was linked with the Everton post this week but his side go into the international break clear at the top after an 11th win from 16 games. Slavisa Jokanovic’s Fulham, who reached the play-offs last season, never looked like recovering once Saïss headed Wolves in front early on.
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They remain 16th having won only four times this season and were deservedly beaten at Molineux .
Rúben Neves had already gone close before Saïss, recalled after suspension, glanced a fine header in at the near post from Barry Douglas’s ninth-minute corner. Diogo Jota then drilled across goalbut Wolves themselves escaped when John Ruddy dropped a free-kick and Kevin McDonald poked the ball over.
Any Fulham hopes of a comeback ended to all intents when Bonatini’s 10th goal of the season doubled Wolves’ lead after 26 minutes. Ryan Sessegnon conceded a free-kick on the right and Douglas’s excellent, driven delivery was glanced in by Bonatini, who has now scored in six league games in a row.
Fulham’s response was muted as, even if they did see more of the ball, they never used it quickly or efficiently enough to trouble Wolves.
The hosts went hunting for more after the break and Bonatini prodded Ivan Cavaleiro’s neat pass wide before Floyd Ayité dragged Fulham’s best chance off target from 15 yards.
Wolves were denied a third after 66 minutes when David Button produced a splendid reflex save from Bonatini’s header and Jota failed to turn in the rebound. Jota, Saïss and Bonatini all squandered fine chances near the end.
FA Cup review
MK Dons ensured they were not early victims of an FA Cup first-round shock as they beat Hyde 4-0.
After the game was delayed when a flare burnt a hole in the Northern Premier League Division One North side’s plastic pitch, Dons went about their business professionally.
The plastic pitch at Hyde’s Ewen Fields was damaged by a flare, causing a delay to kick-off. Photograph: Anthony Devlin/PA
Aidan Nesbitt scored a fine opening goal in the 14th minute, curling into the top corner, and Chuks Aneke supplied a similar finish from a free-kick to make it 2-0 on the stroke of half-time.
Ethan Ebanks-Landell then made the game safe for the League One outfit midway through the second half before Ed Upson put gloss on the scoreline.
Fellow League One clubs Oxford United and Bristol Rovers are out, though, as they succumbed to League Two opposition.
Goals from Gavin Gunning and Tom Pope earned Port Vale a 2-0 win over Oxford at Vale Park.
Gunning opened the scoring with a header in the 16th minute and Pope doubled Vale’s advantage eight minutes after the restart.
Rovers looked on course for a victory at Notts County as they led 2-0 after only 12 minutes at Meadow Lane, before the Magpies produced an impressive comeback.
Liam Sercombe and Stuart Sinclair gave Rovers their dream start before Ryan Yates scored two goals in two minutes on the half-hour to draw County level.
Then the veteran striker Jon Stead put Kevin Nolan’s men ahead in the 58th minute and Jorge Grant made it safe at the death.