Fulham 3-1 Brighton: Iwobi brace the difference at Craven Cottage

Alex Iwobi was the star of the show as his brace helped Fulham to a 3-1 victory over Brighton on Thursday.

Iwobi capitalised on Bart Verbruggen’s early error to get the home side off to a flying start at Craven Cottage.

Carlos Baleba finished expertly after neat work from Joao Pedro to bring Brighton level in the 56th minute, but Matt O’Riley’s luckless own goal restored Fulham’s lead.

And Iwobi wrapped up the points with a lovely bending effort in the closing stages to settle an entertaining contest.

Verbruggen’s careless pass was pounced on by Iwobi and he side-footed home after only four minutes before Simon Adingra shot straight at Bernd Leno when he really ought to have equalised.

Rodrigo Muniz headed agonisingly wide on the stroke of half-time for Fulham but Baleba levelled for Brighton with an exquisite drilled finish from Joao Pedro’s sublime flick into his path after 56 minutes.

But Fulham did well to reset and Andrea Pereira’s fine in-swinging corner found the bottom corner via the backside of O’Riley before Iwobi rounded out the win by cutting in from the left and bending a fine effort past the Verbruggen into the far corner with three minutes to play.

BIG three points! #FULBHA pic.twitter.com/uz0vwPYnOY

— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) December 5, 2024

Data Debrief: Iwobi in form as Brighton’s Fulham hoodoo continues

Iwobi was the difference-maker in what had been a very tight contest at Craven Cottage and he has now scored (3) or assisted in or assisted (2) in each of his last four Premier League appearances, his longest such run in the competition.

This was only the second time the Nigeria international had managed to score twice in a Premier League game in what was his 267th appearance in the competition.

Brighton, meanwhile, have now faced Fulham nine times in the Premier League and failed to beat them. The Cottagers have five wins and four draws versus the Seagulls, the most they have faced a side without losing in the competition.

The visitors were the architects of their own downfall for the first goal and only Southampton (9) have had more errors leading to goals in the Premier League this season than Brighton (6), with Verbruggen responsible for three of those – the joint-most by a player in the competition in 2024-25.