LONDON — They have some fond memories of European nights in this part of London and it would certainly not be unreasonable for Fulham fans to start dreaming of a few more after a 2-1 win over Brighton which lifted Marco Silva’s side into sixth place pushed. point and one place away from their vanquished opponents.
In a year where the Premier League is almost certain to secure a fifth spot in the Champions League, there are rewards available for those willing to attack this season. Fulham are proving he is one of them, even if their cause was helped tonight by sloppiness from Brighton on both sides.
Alex Iwobi sneaked in after just four minutes to punish a misplaced pass from goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen and while a low drive from Carlos Baleba brought Brighton level after half-time, it was Fulham who had more punch on the pitch and on the bench, the pressure their substitutes built telling as academy graduate Matt O’Riley marked his return to Craven Cottage with an own goal. Iwobi’s second in the 88th minute, elegantly spinning into a shooting position in the area, was enough to secure the points for Marco Silva’s side.
There will be work to be done in the coming weeks if they are to maintain their exalted position. The Premier League’s top three loom over the next four games, but at least Fulham can attack them knowing they have nothing to fear. And with the eighth highest expected goal difference in the league, they can back themselves to make Arsenal and Liverpool as uncomfortable as Brighton.
Verbruggen had already looked nervous under Fulham’s pressure in the first three minutes. It didn’t take much longer for him to nod. Igor Julio had certainly played him into a gap with a fidgety pass back towards the byline, but there were more conservative options than rolling the ball in Baleba’s general direction. Iwobi sneaked in and before Verbruggen could run back, a low drive nestled into his far post.
It wouldn’t be the last time that Brighton got into trouble at the back. Antonee Robinson’s cross early in the second half may have been dangerous, but Igor’s corner into Mats Wieffer was much more dangerous for the visitors. At the other end of the pitch, Kaoru Mitoma’s deliveries were no less challenging to defend than Robinson’s. Driving low from the touchline, his cross flew to the back post and Simon Adingra, his shot was impressively parried by Bernd Leno.
As in the first, Fulham started much brighter after the break and could potentially have doubled their lead within seven seconds when Harry Wilson charged over the top and drove wide. Yet Brighton had done enough in the remaining 45 minutes to draw level. It took something very special to get them there: Joao Pedro’s elegant flick on a long ball that rose beautifully for Baleba to score the equalizer.
Brighton might have gone further from there but there was something vague about their possession, all the territory but no real incision for the visitors. It was like they weren’t sure how to make goals. Fulham knew exactly what they wanted to do. Get the ball to the left and go to the opposition. If you can introduce Adama Traore to the legs tired from 70 minutes of Reiss Nelson and the wrought interplay of Emile Smith Rowe’s Hale End, you will experience joy.
A corner forced by Adama was scored menacingly at the near post, while the Brighton defense was completely confused by a ball that ended up off the back of O’Riley. The wanderer storm really got on the score sheet this week. Scoring at the back is not the only thing Arsenal West recently picked up via N5. Iwobi excelled from the start as a free eight, floating between the lines and leaving Brighton without a point of reference.
In the 87th minute they had no idea and Robinson slipped the ball to the Nigeria international on the edge of the penalty area. He held off Evan Ferguson and found an angle between two Brighton defenders to drive home and seal a third win in their last five league games for the Cottagers. Iwobi is in rich form ahead of his reunion with Arsenal on Sunday. He’s not alone. The biggest tests of the season lie ahead of Fulham. Navigate them with even a modicum of success and they can really aim for a place in the European places.