Fulham’s fading hopes of European qualification suffered a terminal blow as they were held to a draw at bottom side Wolves in the Premier League.Matheus Mane smashed Wolves in front in their final home game before returning to the Championship, following eight years in the top flight.But Fulham levelled in first-half stoppage time after the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) recommended a review when Mane caught Fulham full-back Timothy Castagne as the pair challenged for a looping ball inside the box.Referee Thomas Kirk awarded the spot kick and Antonee Robinson coolly converted from 12 yards to score his first Premier League goal – and first in any competition since January 2022.But a run of three games without a win means Marco Silva’s side sit 12th and cannot realistically finish in the top eight given they are three points and nine goals worse off than Brentford, with just a game to go.The visitors began well at Molineux and Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa was forced into action to deny Alex Iwobi, who was left free at the back post to volley Castagne’s cross goalwards.But Wolves grew in the match with Mane drawing a smart save from Fulham keeper Bernd Leno and Rodrigo Gomes flashing a shot just wide.The goal arrived in the 25th minute as Rodrigo Gomes burst down the right and fired in a low cross.Hwang Hee-Chan controlled it before setting it back for Mane to thrash in from the edge of the box.Sander Berge should have levelled moments later but headed into the ground and over after Sa had flapped at a corner but the away side were level at the break.Mane stretched to reach a ball but only made contact with Castagne as the Fulham defender nipped ahead of him, with Robinson the unlikely scorer from the spot after the VAR review.Although Fulham dominated possession, Wolves had the best chances in the second half with Yerson Mosquera heading wide from six yards and Adam Armstrong’s dink over Leno hitting the outside of the post.Boos greeted the final whistle after a result that did little to satisfy either side.
Wolves 1-1 Fulham: Marco Silva’s side suffer blow in bid to qualify for Europe
