Claudio Ranieri was left frustrated by Fulham’s wastefulness after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Wolves. Aleksandar Mitrovic was the chief culprit, the Serbian squandering seven scoring opportunities in the first half alone.

Ryan Sessegnon, a 67th-minute substitute, did put Fulham ahead but Romain Saïss equalised five minutes from the end. Mitrovic nearly won it when he prodded the ball past the onrushing goalkeeper, Rui Patrício, but the Wolves captain, Conor Coady, got back to clear off the line.

Ranieri felt Fulham deserved more than a point but remains confident he can guide them away from relegation trouble. “I’m a little disappointed because I think we deserved more in the first half,” said the Italian.

“In the second half after we scored they found a solution but I’m satisfied with our performance. We were solid, we worked hard against a good team. Mitrovic had the chance to win the match but in this moment we have to stay together and be positive.

“When a team is bottom everything goes against this team. We are stronger than this, we want to react in every match and, if we continue to fight, it will get better.

“If you continue to fight you change it. If you lose hope, you lose everything. I believe in my players and I think we can make something good this season.”

Mitrovic should have found the net five minutes before half-time after he turned Coady and Willy Boly inside out but the striker’s finish was weak and Patrício was able to save.

The teenage winger Sessegnon struck in the 74th minute, pouncing at the far post through a crowd of players after Patrício punched Alfie Mawson’s header straight to him.

However, Wolves levelled with five minutes remaining, Saïss tapping in his first Premier League goal after Hélder Costa had attempted to convert Ivan Cavaleiro’s cross.

The Wolves manager, Nuno Espírito Santo, said: “The first half was not a good performance.

“Fulham were well-organised and there was no space. In the second half we were better, we were on the front foot and got our deserved reward.

“I would not say [we were] lucky. Lucky can hide many things. I felt in the first half we didn’t perform. What I’m feeling is the starting XI was not the best choice. But I’m happy, in the second half we played better and got a deserved draw.”