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The Independent UK

Sport

Nathan Jacobs

Fulham throw away late lead as Wolves fight back for point

Fulham were forced to settle for a point after Wolves fought back at Craven Cottage.

Substitute Ryan Sessegnon climbed off the bench to slam home what he thought would be the winner late on but Romain Saiss profited from yet more poor defending to grab a share of the spoils.

The point sees Claudio Ranieri's men climb off the bottom of the table, at least temporarily.

2018-12-26T11:07:33.800Z

Good morning and welcome to The Independent's live coverage of Boxing Day's Premier League action, kicking off with Fulham vs Wolves at Craven Cottage.

Kick-off is at 12:30pm GMT but team news will be out in a little over 20 minutes, so settle in with your festive leftovers for a bumper day of football.

2018-12-26T11:33:11.926Z

One change for the Cottagers with Aboubakar Kamara starting in the place of Ryan Sessegnon following their creditable 0-0 draw with Newcastle.

↵

2018-12-26T11:34:17.310Z

Their visitors for this afternoon and fellow promoted outfit, Wolves, line up as follows.

There's a place in the starting line-up for youngster Morgan Gibbs-White, too.

2018-12-26T11:46:28.310Z

This Winter period is chockablock with football and no day is more synonymous with the beautiful game than Boxing Day.

It's been a staple in this country for years and it's thrown up some crackers and some shocks in the past.

But just how well do the current 20 members of the Premier League play on Boxing Day?

The guys at TheSportsman have been crunching the data to see that, unsurprisingly, Manchester United come out top on Boxing Day fixtures and with Huddersfield at home this afternoon, you'd fancy their chances.

Meanwhile, Leicester have only won 1 of 12 and who do they face today? Manchester City.

2018-12-26T12:15:31.026Z

We're 15 minutes away from Kick Off in the first game of the day.

Who's your money on this afternoon?

2018-12-26T12:20:16.953Z

These two have faced each other in the Champions League when Leicester City embarked on the European Tour and face Porto.

2018-12-26T12:27:31.240Z

The teams are out of the tunnel and ready to start!

KICK OFF

2018-12-26T12:31:21.763Z

And Wolves get us started this afternoon and knock it about patiently in the first minute but Fulham do claim it and Mitrovic wins a foul.

2018-12-26T12:37:43.556Z

6 mins: Fulham 0-0 Wolves

The game has been a bit scrappy and quiet at the moment but I don't think either side is desperate to rush this.

We've seen already this season what happens when Fulham push too much...

MATCH ACTION

2018-12-26T12:41:07.246Z

9 mins: Fulham 0-0 Wolves

Fulham seem to make a mess of the short corner but Schurrle finds a way to swing in a really good cross which Mitrovic meets but his well connected volley is blocked.

The corner on the other side also falls at the head of Mitrovic who narrowly glances wide (he was offside anyway, but the linesman didn't flag).

MATCH ACTION

2018-12-26T12:44:16.536Z

CHANCE! Fulham 0-0 Wolves (12 mins)

Wolves improving and what fantastic play from Jimenez as the striker takes control of a punt forward, takes another touch to set himself up and hits it on the volley but it goes over the bar.

Replays show that they should've had a penalty moments earlier though as Odoi clearly handles the ball.

Gary Neville is not impressed with the defending.

MATCH ACTION

2018-12-26T12:47:42.243Z

CHANCE! Fulham 0-0 Wolves (16 mins)

Fulham with a big chance of their own as Schurrle motors down the right hand side and puts a ball towards the edge of the box where Mitrovic is hanging about.

He takes the ball around the defenders but is slightly off balance and hits it wide.

Free-kick Wolves now in a dangerous position.

MATCH ACTION

2018-12-26T12:54:58.663Z

Fulham 0-0 Wolves

It's a game of limited action and limited noise.

The crowd is quiet but neither team is giving the other any space.

Chambers narrowly avoids a yellow card for a rather rash and late tackle.

Otherwise, there's very little else to tell you at the moment.

MATCH ACTION

2018-12-26T12:58:00.716Z

25 mins: CHANCE! Fulham 0-0 Wolves

Good work from Fulham down the right hand side sees the ball come to Christie. He guides in a wonderful cross to the path of Mitrovic at the far post but his header is straight at Patricio.

They come again and play some nice one twos on the left hand side with the ball falling to Schurrle who takes a shot from the edge of the box, forcing Patricio into another save.

MATCH ACTION

2018-12-26T13:00:04.113Z

CHANCE FULHAM! Fulham 0-0 Wolves (28 mins)

Big chance for Fulham and some neat interplay on the right sees Kamara tee up Christie who's bearing down on goal.

He's got lots of options but he opts to shoot and his effort goes narrowly wide and beyond the reach of Mitrovic.

Not much in it, though.

Fulham steadily improving.

MATCH ACTION

2018-12-26T13:03:20.480Z

Chance Wolves! Fulham 0-0 Wolves

Wolves fashion a chance of their own now through Raul Jimenez and it's a good one.

He makes great contact with the volley and forces Rico into a good stop.

MATCH ACTION

2018-12-26T13:08:34.770Z

37 mins: Fulham 0-0 Wolves

This game is coming in peaks and troughs of good stuff and this has been a good minute.

Wolves attacked well but lost out and Kamara broke away well.

Used his pace to burst past the Wolves' defence and played in a reasonable ball with his left foot but it was well dealt with.

MATCH ACTION

2018-12-26T13:12:07.450Z

HUGE CHANCE FULHAM! Fulham 0-0 Wolves (40 mins)

A miscued clearance falls to Mitrovic in the box and his bit of skill was absolutely phenomenal to set himself up.

He took the ball down well, jinked round Boly, then moved the ball on to his left foot, slaloming past Coady and he was one-on-one with Patricio but the big frame of the Portuguese helped keep the scores level.

Big big chance gone, not long until half time.

YELLOW CARD

2018-12-26T13:15:52.026Z

44 mins: Fulham 0-0 Wolves

Handbags here as a few niggly fouls sees players from both sides confront each other and there's a bit of pushing and shoving.

Christie, Chambers and Saiss are all booked for their part.

Chambers is lucky to be on the pitch, in all likelihood.

2018-12-26T13:15:59.736Z

1 minute of added time.