5 DECEMBER 2024
FULHAM 3 BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 1
PREMIER LEAGUE - at CRAVEN COTTAGE, WEST LONDON.
Albion's hectic schedule continued with a short trip to West London to meet Fulham in the Premier at Craven Cottage, the game being covered "live" by the Amazon Prime cameras and broadcast by BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and BBC Radio Sussex Sport.
Albion's record against Fulham in the Premier was poor. In their eight meetings in the Premier, Fulham had won four, with the other four drawn. In their previous outing the Albion had drawn 1-1 at home to Southampton in the Premier on the 29 November and for the visit to Craven Cottage the Albion made four changes to their starting line-up from the Southampton game, with Lewis Dunk, Simon Adingra, Carlos Baleba and Mats Wieffer replacing Tariq Lamptey, Georginio Rutter, Yasin Ayari and Danny Welbeck (injured).
Head Coach Fabian Hurzeler had to make do with a seat in the Riverside Stand for this one, as he served a one-match suspension, with Assistant Jonas Scheurmann taking charge of team affairs on the touchline. Last time out Fulham gained a creditable 1-1 draw at Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier on the 1 December and for Albion's visit to the Cottage Fulham made three changes to their starting line-up from that game, with Timothy Castagne, Harry Wilson and Rodrigo Muniz coming in for Kenny Tete, Sasa Lukic (suspended) and Raul Jimenez.
In their meetings in the Premier last season, it finished 1-1 at the Amex on the 29 October 2023 with Evan Ferguson (26m) opening the scoring for the Seagulls and Joao Palhinha (65m) equalising for the Cottagers. In the reverse fixture at Craven Cottage on the 2 March 2024 it was 3-0 to Fulham, with their goals coming from Harry Wilson (21m), Rodrigo Muniz (32m) and Adama Traore (90+1m).
In rainy and windy conditions, the Albion made the worst possible start, when after just four minutes play the usually reliable Albion goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen inexplicably passed the ball out from the back straight to Fulham midfielder Alex Iwobi who took a few steps before calmly slotting the ball home for his side's opener. A dreadful start for the Seagulls. 0-1.
Slowly the Seagulls began to recover their poise as Carlos Baleba's shot flew over the bar and Joao Pedro's volley was held by Fulham keeper Bernd Leno. Rodrigo Muniz then sent a header wide of the post before Simon Adingra's well struck volley was deflected by the diving Leno. The last substantive action of the opening-half was of Muniz heading wide of the target from Antonee Robinson's cross.
Half-time 0-1.
First chance of the second-half fell to the Cottagers but Harry Wilson's volley flew wide. The Albion went close on 54 minutes when Matt O'Riley's corner was met by Jan Paul Van Hecke but the Dutchman's header missed the target by inches. However, the Seagulls were level two minutes later as Pedro's deft pass found Baleba whose superb shot from distance flashed past the helpless Leno. 1-1.
Both teams were now going for it but on 79 minutes the Seagulls found themselves behind again as a corner by substitute Andreas Pereira was diverted into his own net by the luckless O'Riley. 1-2. The Cottagers clinched the three points on 87 minutes when man-of-the-match Iwobi showed some skilful footwork in the box before planting the ball in the Albion net for his team's third. 1-3. The Seagulls realised the game was up at this stage.
Final-score 1-3.
Match stats:
Albion had 13 attempts at goal, with 3 on target and won 6 corners, free-kicks conceded - 8.
Fulham had 6 attempts at goal, with 2 on target and won 5 corners, free-kicks conceded - 7.
SUMMARY - A disappointing result at the Cottage. The early error by Bart Verbruggen did not help the cause, nor did Fabian Hurzeler's absence from the touchline area.Carlos Baleba's goal was outstanding but the Albion need to convert the chances they create.
Albion line-up (3-4-2-1):- Bart VERBRUGGEN; Jan Paul VAN HECKE (Tariq LAMPTEY 72), Lewis DUNK (Capt), Igor JULIO; Simon ADINGRA (Yankuba MINTEH 80), Carlos BALEBA, Mats WIEFFER (Brajan GRUDA 86), Pervis ESTUPINAN; Matt O'RILEY (Georginio RUTTER 81), Kaoru MITOMA; Joao PEDRO (Evan FERGUSON 80).
Subs not used: Jason STEELE (G/K), Ruairi McCONVILLE, Yasin AYARI, Jakub MODER.
Fulham line-up (4-2-3-1):- Bernd LENO; Timothy CASTAGNE, Issa DIOP, Calvin BASSEY, Antonee ROBINSON (Capt); Alex IWOBI, Sander BERGE (Jorge CUENCA 91); Harry WILSON (Josh KING 80), Emile SMITH ROWE (Andreas PEREIRA 71), Reiss NELSON (Adama TRAORE 71); Rodrigo MUNIZ (Raul JIMENEZ 80).
Subs not used: Steven BENDA (G/K), Kenny TETE, Ryan SESSEGNON, Carlos VINICIUS.
Referee: Peter Bankes (Lancashire).
Fourth Official: James Linington.
VAR Official: Paul Tierney.
Yellow Cards:
Albion: 2 - Jan Paul Van Hecke, Lewis Dunk.
Fulham: 2 - Sander Berge, Andreas Pereira.
Possession: Albion - 57%. Fulham - 43%.
BBC Sport Player of the Match: Alex Iwobi (Fulham).
Attendance: 26368.
FORTHCOMING FIXTURES:
8 DECEMBER 2024 - LEICESTER CITY - Away - 2-2.
15 DECEMBER 2024 - CRYSTAL PALACE - Home - Premier League - lick-off 14.00. "Live" on Sky Sports.