Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-0 Fulham

A 0-0 draw at home to Aston Villa can be painted over with ease, and even an away defeat at the Molyneux is relatively simple to disguise. However, the job becomes increasingly difficult when the performance at hand was as lackluster as the spectacle on offer on Sunday.

It may be very easy to get ahead of ourselves and we all may be quick to criticise, but the changes Martin Jol made to the first team appeared unfounded, futile and ultimately, unnecessary. Yet again, Phillipe Senderos was given a centre back role, and in all fairness, performed with a certain solidity on occasion, but the positional adaptation forced Aaron Hughes into right back where, to say he is ineffectual, can be considered an understatement. 

Bobby Zamora was left out of the entire squad after what the club reported to be an ankle injury, while Jol flirted tactically throughout the match with Pajtim Kasami, Damien Duff and Clint Dempsey. For all the Dutchman's endeavour, though, nothing paid off and a 2-0 defeat in the Midlands leaves Fulham with only a point on board and no goals scored.

The Cottagers started the game with a certain zeal, both Jol and his men adamant that our dismal away record can be overturned at the drop of a hat. Pajtim Kasami, who looked skilful but behind the pace on his first Premier League start, blazed through the Wolves defence only to graze the post with a hastily taken shot. 

Mick McCarthy's men returned the early pressure, but in truth, Fulham had the majority share of possession in the first ten or so minutes. Dickson Etuhu launched a timid long range shot at Wayne Hennessey's goal and the Welshman was easily equal to it.

Kevin Doyle then had a most perfect opportunity to put the home side in the lead when knocking the usually resilient Brede Hangeland off the ball. Once the Norweigan had hit the ground, Doyle turned and rounded Schwarzer before firing his shot over the bar. It should have been a warning signal to Jol's men but the message didn't hit home.

Doyle then made up for his earlier glaring miss by putting Wolves into the lead, firing in from just inside the area. Matt Jarvis then ensured Martin Jol's half time team talk would be intense by firing in a second. 

The Fulham manager didn't sit around at the break, pulling of Kasami and Etuhu and replacing them with Dembele and Sidwell respectively. Fulham's faithful travellers were left hoping that the changes would make a difference but the two made little impact.

An early opportunity for Damien Duff just about proved the only opening Fulham carved out in the remainder of the second half. The Irishman's effort was lackluster and again Hennessey was hardly tested.

Wolves winger Stephen Hunt then proved how to be slightly more clinical, forcing Schwarzer into a smart, stretching save. 

The Whites tried their best in the closing minutes to pile on some required pressure and it did tell when a Jon Arne Riise shot was blocked on the line by Hunt. 

The defeat perhaps spelled an unwelcome return to Premier League football our midweek European enjoyment, and Jol should be well aware that a step up is required when St James Park plays host to his team in a week's time.