Match preview: Wolves v Fulham as Cottagers must win on the road

Fulham’s final away match of the season comes with the ultimate do-or-die undertones - win and keep a European place alive, lose and it really is all over.

The Cottagers’ struggles in the last five matches, that have resulted in just four points gained, have given them slim hopes of a return to Europe.

But, facing a Wolves side who are rooted to the very foot of the table, and hosting Newcastle who have struggled all season away from home, there is hope that Fulham may still be able to sneak in.

Wolves will play their final Premier League match at Molineux until at least August 2027 and so will want to end on a high and Marco Silva did warn his players that this game, although seemingly easy, will be anything but.

So what can we expect from Wolves and what sort of team do we expect from Marco Silva?

As previously alluded to, Fulham have struggled in recent weeks and have just one win and one draw to show for their efforts in the five Premier League matches since the international break.

The Cottagers defeated Aston Villa at Craven Cottage to give them a solid chance of making the top eight, after a plucky draw against Brentford away the week before.

But, since then, it has been a struggle, with a 3-0 defeat to Arsenal and a 1-0 home loss against Bournemouth.

It has been away from home that Fulham have really struggled this season, with just 16 of their 48 points coming on the road.

Wolves, meanwhile have effectively never really got going this season and bar a slight upturn in results after Rob Edwards’ appointment, they have more or less just rolled over.

Two points from their last six games is only better than Burnley and Chelsea in terms of form and they showed their mental weakness when 2-0 down after just five minutes against Brighton in a 3-0 defeat.

This will be the 102nd meeting between Fulham and Wolves, with the midlands club claiming the first ever encounter in the old Division Two in November, 1907.

Wolves have won 47 of those matches, dominating over the years, with Fulham winning 29 and the match ending as a draw on 25 occasions.

In more recent clashes, it has largely been honours even, especially at Molineux itself, where each side has won a game each and there has been a draw.

Fulham won the last two matches, including a 3-0 win in the reverse fixture in November.

There was positive news regarding Alex Iwobi, who may be fit to return to the starting lineup after missing three matches with a hamstring injury.

Joachim Andersen is suspended following his red card, while Ryan Sessegnon remains out injured after picking up an injury against Aston Villa.

Fulham (4-2-3-1): Leno; Robinson, Diop, Bassey, Castagne; Lukic, Berge; Kevin, King, Wilson; Jimenez

Fulham go into the game as odds-on favourites, fetching odds of 10/11.

Wolves are 11/4, while a draw is 14/5.

“I know that they are relegated, but if I go back and look for, for example, their last six home games, I saw them winning against Liverpool, I saw them winning against Villa, I saw them get a great result [2-2] against the team that is on top of the table [Arsenal] in the Premier League, that is fighting to be champions.

“And if you think that even if they are or not relegated, it’s going to be easy or not, when you have these type of games, players want to show their capacities – individual point of view, them as a football club, and of course they want to win the game as well.

“It’s that feeling [for Wolves] of last game of the season at home with your fans, you know what that represents as well. They want to finish in a different way. Everything is there, and that showed to me that it’s going to be a difficult game.

“I didn't know about the double over Wolves – let's go for it. But the first thing you have, I'm not talking about respecting themselves, more to respect ourselves, what we have been doing, and the points that are there for us to fight for.”