Wolves v Fulham preview: A pivotal period in Wolves' relegation battle

An impressive 1-0 win over Bournemouth at the weekend - with other results going their way - means Wolves are now five points clear of the relegation zone and have a goal difference advantage of 12 over 17th-placed Ipswich Town.

With 12 top flight games remaining this season, Wolves are far from safe, but they are heading in the right direction and now have a huge opportunity in front of them.

Bournemouth away was arguably the hardest game - on current form at least - of a nine-game run that will take Wolves into early May.

To have started that run of fixtures with three points and plenty of opportunities ahead of them, was the perfect reaction from Vitor Pereira's side.

Fulham have quality of their own but potentially face some injury concerns, while Wolves should use their home advantage under the Molineux floodlights.

Although Pereira refused to comment on Wolves' upcoming fixtures, he did acknowledge that a win over London opposition tonight would mean Wolves could begin focusing on the teams above them and moving away from danger.

"I cannot think about them, I just put my focus on Fulham," the head coach said.

"I block my mind, I need to put all my energy in the next game because it's very important for us.

"A win and if we get the three points, it would be fantastic, to start looking up and not down.

"To have more tranquillity to play at our best level.

"They are a team that, to face them, we must be at our best level.

"They have very good players and they are a team.

"We can improve a lot of things, scoring goals and when we get the opportunities.

"They are a very good team with a very good coach.

"They are consistent, with good players, but we must look at ourselves and compete to get the three points."

Pereira will take on compatriot Marco Silva, who he has faced four times earlier in his career, picking up four wins.

The Wolves boss was complimentary of the Fulham head coach ahead of tonight's clash.

"In that time, I was the coach of Porto and he was starting his career at Estoril," Pereira said when asked about taking on Silva's teams before.

"We realised he was a talented coach and he's proved that with his career especially in England, but also in Portugal.

"He has quality, he likes to have his team playing good football and this is something I like too."

Despite the quick turnaround following the Bournemouth win, Pereira could be tempted to name an unchanged side, particularly with injuries to Hwang Hee-chan, Emmanuel Agbadou, Rodrigo Gomes and Goncalo Guedes ruling them out of the fixture.

Jorgen Strand Larsen returned from injury at the weekend and came on at half-time and could start the game, meaning Marshall Munetsi may drop to the bench or fill a midfield slot.

But risking Larsen from the start so soon after recovering from a hamstring strain could put Pereira off selecting him.