Wolves' Max Kilman believes he was 'too honest' in Fulham head butt incident
Wolves captain Max Kilman said he was ‘too honest’ in not going down after a clash of heads with Carlos Vinicius in the defeat at Fulham.
Willian converted two second-half penalties, including the stoppage-time winner, in a match which left visiting boss Gary O’Neil questioning “mind- boggling” VAR decisions.
The result was Wolves’ sixth loss in 13 Premier League games, but Kilman felt they were unfortunate to come away from Craven Cottage empty-handed.
“We deserved to get something from the game,” the defender said in an interview with Wolves’ website. “When we equalised, we wanted to go on and win the game. But there are some factors we can’t control, and we have suffered again. In the second half we started to lift the tempo, but some decisions shouldn’t have been given against us, so it’s tough to take.
“We’re sticking to (O’Neil’s) game-plan and he’s trying to fit that in with how we want to play, and he’s doing a great job. We just need to keep listening and keep doing it.”
VAR sent referee Michael Salisbury to the screen to view Joao Gomes’ challenge on Harry Wilson for the late spot-kick, after Nelson Semedo’s challenge on Tom Cairney had seen the award of the first Fulham penalty.
O’Neil highlighted the late incident as well as Carlos Vinicius’ alleged headbutt on Kilman and Tim Ream not receiving a second yellow card for a foul on Hwang Hee-chan, with Kilman similarly perplexed.
Kilman added: “I think the first penalty, they should not have got that penalty. I think it wasn’t a foul. Our player (Semedo) got to the ball first. Our penalty that we won, the player was on a yellow card, he fouls him (Hwang), he’s last man, he should be sent off. The incident with me, I’ve been headbutted and been too honest and not gone down, but it’s not my fault.
“I didn’t see the second (Fulham penalty) properly but some decisions are not going our way and we’re not getting any help from referees to see what’s going on.”
Unlike Kilman and O’Neil, match-winner Willian felt the home team were worthy winners.
“We did well, we tried from the beginning to control the game, to press high,” the Brazilian told FFCtv.
“Of course you cannot control 100 per cent the game - it’s impossible - but when we didn’t have the ball we set up well. Sometimes we wait, sometimes we press and at the end we deserved the three points.”
