Substitute Andy Johnson scored a dramatic late leveller for Fulham
By Les Roopanarine
Relegation strugglers Wolves were denied a priceless win as a dramatic late intervention from substitute Andy Johnson earned Fulham a point.
Johnson, introduced on 79 minutes with the visitors trailing, had been on the field for only 18 seconds when he slammed home a Bobby Zamora lay-off.
Steven Fletcher had earlier put Wolves ahead, nodding home from six yards after Karl Henry's far-post cross.
Fulham boss Mark Hughes was sent off for his furious reaction to a booking.
Johnson's strike provided a suitably theatrical finale to a match that began with Danny Murphy cast in the role of pantomime villain and ended in a fashion Wolves manager Mick McCarthy will probably have deemed closer to tragedy.
McCarthy satisfied with point
With 10 minutes to go, McCarthy's side - who started the contest bottom of the Premier League table - were heading for a win that would have hauled them clear of the relegation zone.
Having taken the lead against the run of play midway through the first half, Wolves had defended tigerishly up to that point and looked firm favourites to see the game out.
But Johnson's strike, driven home emphatically after Zamora had set him up from a long ball into the box, ensured that Fulham would return home with something to show for an afternoon of ceaseless endeavour.
It was probably no more than they deserved from a game played in a febrile atmosphere.
Murphy, in particular, endured a torrid time on his first visit to Molineux since remarking - in the wake of last September's reverse fixture, in which an Henry tackle left Zamora with a broken leg - that Wolves were "too pumped up" for Premier League combat.
Both managers subsequently exonerated Henry of any blame for the incident but that did not stop the Molineux support - doubtless stoked up by Henry's pre-match suggestion that Murphy should "worry about his own team" - subjecting the Fulham midfielder to a relentless chorus of derision.
Game was too much for ref - Hughes
The charged atmosphere seemed to animate the visitors more than their opponents, and for the opening 20 minutes life was less than comfortable for the home defence.
No one was more prominent for Fulham than Carlos Salcido. Not content with drawing a flying save from keeper Wayne Hennessy in the opening moments, the livewire left-back then delivered a perfect cross for Clint Dempsey, who somehow contrived to fire over from six yards out with the goal at his mercy.
Wolves were feeling the heat, and the temperature rose further when Richard Stearman made a poor challenge on Eidur Gudjohnsen, incensing the Fulham striker's team-mates and drawing a predictable booking from referee Michael Oliver.
The Ashington official's next major decision was similarly straightforward, as Fletcher made Fulham pay for their profligacy by out-jumping Aaron Hughes to head in Henry's right-wing centre.
The Scotland international's fifth league goal of the season did little to allay the tension and the half ended with further incident as Henry was flattened by a Murphy challenge and Fulham's Steve Sidwell wrestled Jamie O'Hara to the floor.
Fulham continued to create, too, although Simon Davies will doubtless wish to forget his failure to connect with an inviting ball from Dempsey.
More threatening was Chris Baird's cross from the right shortly after the break, which eluded the prone Hennessy's grasp and would have presented the lurking Moussa Dembele with a tap-in, had Henry not nipped in ahead of the Belgian to clear.
The breathless pace continued, Adlene Guedioura drawing a sprawling save from Schwarzer at one end before Gudjohnsen marred a weaving run into the box by blasting over.
Already a goal down, Fulham then lost their manager, referee Oliver sending Hughes to the stands for his furious reaction to the somewhat harsh booking administered for Brede Hangeland's sliding challenge on Fletcher.
Johnson's late intervention doubtless improved the Welshman's humour and Hughes might have had even greater cause for cheer had Hennessy not thwarted substitute Gael Kakuta late on.
90:00+4:01 The referee blows for the end of the match.
90:00+2:11 Brede Hangeland takes the indirect free kick.
90:00+2:11 Booking Caution for Jody Craddock.
90:00+2:06 Foul by Jody Craddock on Simon Davies, free kick awarded.
90:00+1:21 Foul by Andrew Johnson on Karl Henry, free kick awarded. The free kick is swung in left-footed by Jamie O'Hara, clearance
made by Bobby Zamora.
90:00+0:49 Effort from the edge of the box by Gael Kakuta goes wide of the left-hand post.
90:00+0:37 Gael Kakuta takes a shot. Wayne Hennessey makes a save.
88:14 Steve Sidwell fouled by Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Brede Hangeland.
87:21 Foul by Bobby Zamora on Michael Mancienne, free kick awarded. Indirect free kick taken by Wayne Hennessey.
85:11 A cross is delivered by Stephen Ward, Headed effort from deep inside the area by Sylvan Ebanks-Blake misses to the right of
the goal.
84:41 Substitution (Wolverhampton) makes a substitution, with Michael Kightly coming on for Adlene Guedioura.
83:33 Jamie O'Hara sends in a cross, Header from deep inside the area by Karl Henry goes harmlessly over the crossbar.
82:34 Effort on goal by Moussa Dembele from just inside the area clears the bar.
Correction - 79:36 GOAL - Andrew Johnson:Wolverhampton 1 - 1 Fulham Andrew Johnson scores a goal from just inside the area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Wolverhampton 1-1 Fulham.
79:36 The assist for the goal came from Bobby Zamora.
79:36 GOAL - Andrew Johnson:Wolverhampton 1 - 1 Fulham Andrew Johnson finds the net with a goal from the edge of the area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Wolverhampton 1-1
Fulham.
78:45 Indirect free kick taken by Mark Schwarzer.
78:45 Substitution Andrew Johnson on for Clint Dempsey.
78:45 The assistant referee flags for offside against Sylvan Ebanks-Blake.
77:18 Michael Mancienne gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Moussa Dembele. Carlos Salcido takes the indirect free
kick.
76:52 Substitution Sylvan Ebanks-Blake replaces Steven Fletcher.
75:48 Steven Fletcher takes a shot. Save by Mark Schwarzer.
75:27 Chris Baird produces a cross, clearance by Christophe Berra.
74:03 Steven Fletcher has an effort at goal from the edge of the box that misses to the right of the target.
72:52 Simon Davies concedes a free kick for a foul on Jamie O'Hara. Karl Henry restarts play with the free kick.
72:05 Corner taken right-footed by Matthew Jarvis, Christophe Berra takes a shot. Chris Baird gets a block in.
71:46 Gael Kakuta has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the left-hand upright.
70:59 Bobby Zamora fouled by Jody Craddock, the ref awards a free kick. Steve Sidwell restarts play with the free kick.
68:21 Jody Craddock takes the indirect free kick.
68:21 Substitution Gael Kakuta on for Danny Murphy.
68:21 Substitution Bobby Zamora comes on in place of Eidur Gudjohnsen.
68:21 Foul by Eidur Gudjohnsen on Michael Mancienne, free kick awarded.
67:15 The assistant referee flags for offside against Steven Fletcher. Aaron Hughes takes the free kick.
65:53 Steve Sidwell takes a shot. Save by Wayne Hennessey.
65:11 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Brede Hangeland by Steven Fletcher. Free kick taken by Mark Schwarzer.
64:12 Effort from deep inside the area by Eidur Gudjohnsen misses to the right of the goal.
63:00 Effort from the edge of the penalty area by Clint Dempsey goes wide of the left-hand post.
61:57 Outswinging corner taken by Simon Davies, save made by Wayne Hennessey.
61:31 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Eidur Gudjohnsen by Christophe Berra. Free kick taken by Danny Murphy.
58:01 Substitution Nenad Milijas leaves the field to be replaced by Michael Mancienne.
55:45 Richard Stearman restarts play with the free kick.
55:45 Booking Brede Hangeland receives a yellow card.
55:35 Foul by Brede Hangeland on Steven Fletcher, free kick awarded.
51:59 Effort on goal by Eidur Gudjohnsen from inside the penalty area goes harmlessly over the bar.
49:48 Adlene Guedioura takes a shot. Mark Schwarzer makes a save.
45:50 Booking Booking for Chris Baird for unsporting behaviour.
45:01 The second half has started.
Half Time
45:00+2:47 The match has reached half-time.
45:00+2:06 Clint Dempsey produces a right-footed shot from long distance which goes wide right of the goal.
45:00+0:54 Jamie O'Hara has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the right of the target.
45:00+0:22 Steve Sidwell gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Adlene Guedioura. Jody Craddock takes the indirect free kick.
42:35 Adlene Guedioura takes a shot from long distance which goes wide right of the target.
41:42 Outswinging corner taken by Simon Davies, Clint Dempsey challenges Christophe Berra unfairly and gives away a free kick. Wayne
Hennessey takes the free kick.
41:31 Clint Dempsey takes a shot. Stephen Ward gets a block in.
39:26 The assistant referee flags for offside against Jamie O'Hara. Free kick taken by Mark Schwarzer.
36:13 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jody Craddock by Moussa Dembele. Free kick taken by Wayne Hennessey.
35:28 Clint Dempsey concedes a free kick for a foul on Richard Stearman. Free kick taken by Nenad Milijas.
34:58 Brede Hangeland gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Christophe Berra. Wayne Hennessey restarts play with the
free kick.
33:45 Free kick awarded for a foul by Jody Craddock on Clint Dempsey. Danny Murphy takes the direct free kick.
32:55 Steve Sidwell challenges Adlene Guedioura unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Jody Craddock.
32:18 Jamie O'Hara takes a long range shot harmlessly clearing the crossbar.
31:52 Corner taken right-footed by Matthew Jarvis, save made by Mark Schwarzer.
30:41 Adlene Guedioura has an effort at goal from long range that misses to the right of the target.
29:55 Free kick awarded for a foul by Aaron Hughes on Steven Fletcher. Nenad Milijas takes the free kick.
28:44 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Danny Murphy from the left by-line, Richard Stearman makes a clearance.
28:29 Steve Sidwell crosses the ball, Richard Stearman gets a block in.
28:02 Free kick awarded for a foul by Nenad Milijas on Simon Davies. Indirect free kick taken by Chris Baird.
27:39 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Brede Hangeland by Steven Fletcher. Danny Murphy restarts play with the free
kick.
26:22 Free kick awarded for a foul by Carlos Salcido on Adlene Guedioura. Wayne Hennessey takes the free kick.
24:25 Unfair challenge on Clint Dempsey by Richard Stearman results in a free kick. Mark Schwarzer takes the indirect free kick.
23:34 Clint Dempsey concedes a free kick for a foul on Adlene Guedioura. Jamie O'Hara crosses the ball from the free kick left-footed
from right wing.
22:38 Foul by Chris Baird on Jamie O'Hara, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Jamie O'Hara.
21:05 Karl Henry provided the assist for the goal.
21:05 GOAL - Steven Fletcher:Wolverhampton 1 - 0 Fulham Steven Fletcher finds the net with a headed goal from deep inside the penalty area. Wolverhampton 1-0 Fulham.
20:36 Corner from the left by-line taken by Matthew Jarvis, Clint Dempsey makes a clearance.
20:20 The ball is delivered by Stephen Ward, Adlene Guedioura produces a header from the edge of the box and misses to the left
of the goal.
18:26 Handball decision goes against Adlene Guedioura. Indirect free kick taken by Mark Schwarzer.
16:30 Shot from deep inside the area by Clint Dempsey clears the crossbar.
16:03 Foul by Christophe Berra on Moussa Dembele, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Danny Murphy.
14:22 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Richard Stearman by Clint Dempsey. Wayne Hennessey takes the free kick.
13:07 Free kick taken by Aaron Hughes.
13:07 Booking The referee books Richard Stearman for unsporting behaviour.
12:54 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Steve Sidwell by Richard Stearman.
Correction - 12:10 Clint Dempsey produces a left-footed shot from the edge of the box and misses to the left of the target.
12:10 Effort from the edge of the penalty area by Moussa Dembele goes wide of the left-hand post.
11:40 Simon Davies fouled by Karl Henry, the ref awards a free kick. Chris Baird takes the free kick.
10:33 Simon Davies challenges Stephen Ward unfairly and gives away a free kick. Matthew Jarvis crosses the ball in from the free
kick.
10:11 Steve Sidwell is caught offside. Wayne Hennessey takes the free kick.
8:48 Effort on goal by Moussa Dembele from long range goes over the crossbar.
7:42 Corner taken by Danny Murphy from the left by-line.
6:25 The assistant referee flags for offside against Steven Fletcher. Free kick taken by Mark Schwarzer. Christophe Berra challenges
Moussa Dembele unfairly and gives away a free kick. The free kick is delivered right-footed by Danny Murphy from right channel.
5:51 The referee blows for offside. Christophe Berra restarts play with the free kick.
2:31 Corner taken by Simon Davies.
2:06 Carlos Salcido takes a shot. Save by Wayne Hennessey.
0:14 Foul by Jody Craddock on Moussa Dembele, free kick awarded. Danny Murphy takes the free kick.
0:00 The match begins.
Live text and data provided by The Press Association.
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