Alex Iwobi double continues Fulham's remarkable streak to deflate Brighton
FULHAM 3-1 BRIGHTON: Alex Iwobi scored the opening and final goal as Marco Silva's team moved up to sixth in the Premier League table with an impressive win at Craven Cottage
Alex Iwobi finished as he started to further cement Fulham’s status as Brighton ’s bogey team.
The Nigeria forward scored after four minutes and with three remaining to bookend another fine win for Marco Silva’s side, who are now up to sixth.
And it means wasteful Albion, whose head coach Fabian Hurzeler was serving a one-game touchline ban, have now lost five and drawn the remaining four of their Premier League meetings with the Cottagers.
Carlos Baleba had scored a brilliant equaliser before Fulham retook the lead through an unfortunate Matt O’Reilly own goal - and Hurzeler felt his team deserved more only to rue their slack finishing.
READ MORE: Amazon Prime Video issue apology to Liverpool boss Arne Slot after incorrect accusationREAD MORE: Prince Abdullah faces calls to finalise £100m Sheff Utd takeover after EFL approve deal“We all know it's not the result we deserve,” he said. “We deserved much more, we created a lot of chances. The team played very good in possession but we have to be more clinical and clean in the opponents' box.”
Iwobi’s opener was a gift as Bart Verbruggen, stationed four yards left of his goal, tried to find Baleba inside the box instead of getting rid.
But he sent it straight to Iwobi’s feet instead and the wide man caressed into the empty net for the easiest goal he will score all season. "We knew it was going to be tough but started the best way possible," Silva said.
Moments later Iwobi was handed another glorious opportunity when Lewis Dunk failed to deal with a long ball that allowed him the freedom to gallop forward.
But just as he pulled the trigger Igor Julio recovered to make a goal-saving block.
Hurzeler - sitting high in the Riverside Stand with headphones linking him to his backroom staff on the bench - grew increasingly agitated with his team’s dozy start.
Brighton did, however, begin to settle. Joao Pedro twice threatened, Baleba and Pervis Estupinan had efforts blocked and Bernd Leno denied Simon Adingra from close range.
But their finishing was largely wayward and Harry Wilson almost made it 2-0 seven seconds into the second half when shooting wide following an alert through ball from Iwobi.
Brighton resumed their dominance and their at last leveller arrived in the 56th minute when Pedro laid off to Baleba and he drilled a fantastic first-time effort into the bottom left corner.
As the game opened up O’Reilly went close to putting the visitors in front following a smart ball from Kaoru Mitoma.
But there was little he could do when Andreas Pereira’s corner snaked through a crowd of bodies before deflecting off his back and in.
That seemed to knock the stuffing out of Brighton and Iwobi made sure of the win when he gathered Antonee Robinson’s pass with his back to goal, turned and dispatched a sublime strike into the bottom right corner.
“They were the best team in the first half but the second half was different,” Silva added. “We were the best team on the pitch, even at 1-1, and overall deserved the three points.”
Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle in an unbeatable new deal that saves £192 and includes more than 1,000 live matches each season across the Premier League, EFL and more.