Fulham 3-1 Brighton

Finishes from Alex Iwobi either side of an own goal from former Fulham midfielder Matt O’Riley secured an impressive 3-1 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion at Craven Cottage on Thursday evening.

The game was just getting going when Iwobi capitalised on a terrible error from Seagulls goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen to open the scoring, but the visitors drew level early in the second half through a spectacular Carlos Baleba strike.

Brighton had plenty of the play after that but Fulham wrestled back control and went in front when the unfortunate O’Riley diverted Andreas Pereira’s corner in, before Iwobi made sure of the points with a wonderful turn and finish.

Marco Silva made a trio of changes to the side that was held by Tottenham Hotspur four days earlier. Timothy Castagne started at right-back in the Premier League for the first time this season in place of Kenny Tete, Rodrigo Muniz was preferred to Raúl Jiménez up front, and Harry Wilson replaced the suspended Saša Lukić, meaning a more central and slightly deeper role for Iwobi.

Any fears that playing as the eight would hinder Iwobi’s goal threat were allayed after three minutes. He was given a hand by Verbruggen playing the ball straight to him, but still had to shimmy away from his marker before planting an accurate strike beyond the reach of last man Lewis Dunk.

Moments later our number 17 sprinted through the middle of the park and beyond the Brighton backline to get on the end of Muniz’s flick, but Igor Julio recovered well to smother his shot.

Brighton then sprang to life with a couple of chances, Baleba firing over and Joao Pedro drawing a firm stop from Bernd Leno.

It was an all-action start, with fewer than 13 minutes played when Muniz rose highest to meet Wilson’s out-swinging corner. He made good contact but his downwards header dropped just wide of the post.

After a frenetic opening to the game, the chances dried up for a while, that was until Kaoru Mitoma cut back to Simon Adingra who smashed a first time strike on target, to which Leno reacted incredibly to push away.

The subsequent corner dropped kindly for Pervis Estupinan on the edge of the box, but he dragged his powerful effort wide.

The Seagulls had grown into the game but it was Fulham who came closest to grabbing the game’s second goal at the end of the half, a slick move down the left culminating in Muniz heading Antonee Robinson’s cross wide.

The second half started with us in the ascendancy, too, as we went close within seven seconds as a kick-off routine led to Iwobi picking out the forward run of Wilson, who volleyed off target on his right foot as the ball dropped over his shoulder.

The first Brighton threat of the second period arrived on 54 minutes when a really dangerous corner from O’Riley picked out Jan Paul van Hecke six yards out, but he nodded inches over.

Their next chance was a much harder one, but it was one which drew them level, with Baleba drilling a brilliant low volley inside the far post following a deft flick from Pedro 25 yards out.

Chances at either end then saw van Hecke make a last ditch tackle as Nelson went to pull the trigger, before a battle of the 33s saw Robinson block a fierce strike from Fulham Academy graduate O’Riley.

Adama Traoré and Andreas had been sent on to try and restore the Whites’ attacking impetus, and they soon had impacts. Adama’s powerful running won a corner, and Andreas’ wicked delivery was diverted into his own net by O’Riley.

The boys did not sit back thereafter, and were duly rewarded with our third. After positive play from Premier League debutant Josh King who had come off the bench when we went 2-1 up, Robinson found Iwobi who showed incredible footwork in the box to work space for a shot which he bent inside the far post. A lovely way to secure a very impressive three points.