ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: Wolves 2 Fulham 1:AFTER 22 attempts in three seasons, Mick McCarthy finally celebrated his first home win as a Premier League manager yesterday.
Wolverhampton Wanderers survived a nervous finale to collect their second victory of the campaign. That winless run has not been the sort of statistic for a manager to cherish but it has also been one that has not caused McCarthy any sleepless nights – the chastening spell he endured at Sunderland has long been consigned to memory.
The former Republic of Ireland manager punched the air at the final whistle, a mixture of jubilation and relief coursing through the Yorkshireman after his side made hard work of what had looked like being a routine win when Dave Edwards added to Kevin Doyle’s first goal early in the second half.
The complexion of the game changed, however, when Danny Murphy scored from the penalty spot after Michael Mancienne tugged needlessly at Bobby Zamora’s arm. That left Wolves with 24 minutes to hold on.
There were several uncomfortable moments, in particular when the assistant referee failed to flag for what appeared to be a clear offside as Wolves pushed out on a Fulham free-kick in the 78th minute. Diomansy Kamara, who had come on as a substitute little more than 60 seconds earlier, lifted the ball over Wayne Hennessey but George Elokobi raced back to make a clearance and bring McCarthy that elusive win.
“I have got shit stats if you want to start bringing them up,” said the Wolves manager, in typically forthright style. “It is usually when I get the tin tack that Sky put them up. I don’t give a flying f*** to be honest. I look at what’s in front of me, not what’s behind me. I’ve had good, bad and indifferent throughout my career.
“Our first home win of the season is more of a concern to me than the fact that I was manager of Sunderland three years ago. All that record behind me is for people to throw up when it goes tits up for me – if it ever does.”
Having scored all three of their Premier League goals from set pieces before this fixture, Wolves made it four from four when Christophe Berra flicked on Greg Halford’s incredible long throw-in, enabling Doyle to head past the stranded Mark Schwarzer from three yards and score his first goal for the club since arriving from Reading for €7 million in the summer.
“It was great for Kev and that will help his confidence,” said McCarthy, whose side’s second goal was slightly more refined, although Clint Dempsey’s wayward header provided a helping hand. Edwards pilfered possession and thereafter there was much to admire as the Wales international strode forward before releasing the tireless Andy Keogh and despatching a return pass beyond Schwarzer and into the top corner.
“We made two rather blatant errors and were punished for them,” said Roy Hodgson, the Fulham manager.
Guardian Service
