Nuno Espirito Santo already had the look of a Bond villain and now he has the name. ‘One Doctor Nuno,’ rang out around Molineux as Wolves all-but confirmed seventh place by beating Fulham.
The honourary doctorate presented to Nuno by the University of Wolverhampton before kick-off prompted the terraces to give him a new nickname, and it is one that could be heading into Europe next season.
A third win in a row moves Wolves to four points clear of Everton with one game left. Only Leicester, who face Manchester City and Chelsea, can overtake them and even that requires Wolves losing at Liverpool on the final day.
Leander Dendoncker scores Wolverhampton Wanderers' first goal of the match against Fulham
Dendoncker celebrates scoring the goal with his Wolves team-mates in front of the home fans
Fulham players look dejected as they watch Leander Dendoncker celebrate scoring his goal
Wolves 3-5-2: Patricio (Norris 90); Bennett, Coady, Boly (Kilman 90); Doherty, Dendoncker, Neves, Moutinho, Castro (Vinagre 90); Jimenez, Jota
Subs not used: Cavaleiro, Costa, Gibbs White, Traore
Goals: Dendoncker 75
Yellows: Jota
Fulham 4-2-3-1: Rico; Bryan, Ream, Le Marchand, Christie; Anguissa (Elliott 88), Chambers; Babel, Cairney, Sessegnon (Ayita 83); Mitrovic
Subs not used: Kebano, Nordtveit, Mawson, Fabri, Sessgnon
Yellows: Chambers, Le Marchand, Christie
Should Manchester City beat Watford in the FA Cup final then Wolves will be on course for an early entry into the Europa League. That is some achievement having just come up from the Championship. Doctor Nuno indeed.
Wolves may have only scored once here but Fulham were well beaten. Scott Parker’s side arrived having won three in a row without conceding but as Wolves cranked up the tempo this result always looked likely. The decisive moment came 15 minutes from time when Matt Doherty crossed for Leander Dendoncker and the Belgian struck a sweet volley.
Raul Jimenez’s favourite wrestler Sin Cara was in attendance, with thousands of cardboard masks handed out to fans. The same mask Jimenez wore at Wembley to provoke Troy Deeeney’s ire. There was greater satisfaction this time.
Wolverhampton Wanderers player Diogo Jota receives an early yellow card in the match
Wolves' forward Diogo Jota has a shot on goal during the match, but can't quite score
Wolverhampton Wanderers' Diogo Jota goes down after clashing with Fulham's Cyrus Christie
Aleksandar Mitrovic is challenged by Leander Dendoncker of Wolverhampton Wanderers
Jota was central
