Wolverhampton 2 Fulham 0:WOLVES PUT their fans through every shade of angst last season, but the sufferers in the stands could chant "We are top of the League" with some justification yesterday.

A second successive victory, against a strangely subdued Fulham side, briefly took Wolves clear of the Premier League pack.

It was the first time that they had headed the field since August 1973. That it might be just a temporary blip, an early-season aberration, before the big boys start to kick into gear is undoubted. Indeed, two hours later Manchester City sneaked above them at the top on goal difference after their success at Bolton Wanderers.

The jubilant fans should also remember that after that great day in 1973, Wolves went on to lose their next five matches and eventually finished in 16th place.

Mick McCarthy was wise to urge some down-to-earth caution.

“I’m delighted, of course I am,” the Wolves manager said. “But it’s only two matches and I know how this league can come back to bite you on the bum. We start every season at the bottom alphabetically so to get back-to-back wins is brilliant.

“I’ve never been here before so I don’t really know how to celebrate. Maybe I’ll have a bottle of beer in front of the TV, but I might fall asleep.”

Wolves were fast and fluid, solid at the back and displayed just the right hint of aggression to keep Fulham at bay.

Apart from an early flurry, with Damien Duff and Dickson Etuhu going close, the visitors were flat and uninspiring. Conceding both goals so close to half-time did not help either.

The tireless Kevin Doyle cleverly gave Wolves the lead, after twisting among a mass of bodies in the Fulham box, and then Matt Jarvis guided in the second after Roger Johnson’s header had struck a post.