Doyle gives Wolves some bite against Fulham

Wolverhampton climbed away from the relegation zone as goals from Kevin Doyle and David Edwards secured a 2-1 win over Fulham on Sunday.

Mick McCarthy’s team, promoted as Championship winners, had won only one of their first five Premier League matches, but they ended that spluttering run with a dominant display at Molineux.

Republic of Ireland striker Doyle was the key figure as his first goal for the club capped an impressive effort that added bite to Wolves’ previously toothless attack.

He opened the scoring before Edwards struck soon after half-time. Fulham midfielder Danny Murphy pulled one back with a penalty but it was no consolation for the lacklustre Cottagers.

McCarthy handed a debut to on-loan Red Star Belgrade midfielder Segundo Castillo, an Ecuador international who spent last season on loan at Everton.

After a scrappy opening, Doyle brought the game to life as he notched for the first time since his 6.5 million pounds move from Reading in the close-season.

Doyle had looked the liveliest player on the pitch so it was no surprise when he reacted quickest to Christophe Berra’s flick-on from Greg Halford’s long throw to nod past Mark Schwarzer from close range in the 16th minute.

Fulham had been in Europa League action in Bulgaria on Thursday and their long journey home from the 1-1 draw with CSKA Sofia seemed to have taken its toll.

Roy Hodgson’s team never got going and Wolves added a second goal five minutes after the interval.

Andrew Johnson’s aimless header in the centre circle was picked up by Edwards who released Andrew Keogh.

The midfielder continued his run forward and when Keogh cut the ball back to the penalty spot Edwards’ sweetly-struck first-time strike gave Schwarzer no chance.

Seconds later Schwarzer was forced to tip Aaron Hughes’ back-header on to the crossbar after the centre-back failed to properly deal with Keogh’s inswinging cross.

Fulham were handed a lifeline when referee Kevin Friend, on his Premier League debut, ruled Michael Mancienne had hauled Bobby Zamora to the floor when contesting Johnson’s cross and Murphy rolled home the 66th minute penalty.

But Wolves finished well on top despite that setback and claimed their first home win of the season.