Wilson and Muniz star as Fulham beat Brighton

2 years ago 105
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Harry Wilson scores against BrightonHarry Wilson has scored two goals in five games against Fulham

Fulham saw off a potentially distracted Brighton, who have a Europa League tie against Roma on Thursday, in the Premier League at Craven Cottage.

Harry Wilson beautifully curled in the opener to set Fulham on their way following tenacious work from Rodrigo Muniz to win the ball high up the field.

It was roles reversed for the second as Wilson returned the favour when delivering a teasing ball for Muniz to convert with his head from six yards out, scoring his fifth goal of the season, with all of those strikes coming in the past five games.

Despite there being two goals in the first half, there were large periods of meandering and dull football with Brighton enjoying 70% of possession but struggling to create meaningful chances.

The game opened up and became a more exciting spectacle at both ends after half-time as Brighton brought on attacking duo Simon Adingra and Ansu Fati and committed bodies to the attack in search of a route back into the game.

Evan Ferguson had two big opportunities to score, with his first effort rolling agonisingly wide of the far post and his second well saved by a sprawling Bernd Leno, while substitute Facundo Buonanotte struck the base of a post.

With every Brighton outfield player in opposition territory as the game ticked into additional time, Fulham won the ball on the halfway line through Bobby de Cordova-Reid, who raced forward and squared for Adama Traore to score his first goal for the club.

Fulham stay 12th in the table and Brighton drop to ninth.

Fulham build on Old Trafford success

After last weekend's dramatic late win at Manchester United, Fulham ensured that hard work was not going to waste as they recorded back-to-back wins in the league for only the second time this season.

Marco Silva deployed an unchanged starting XI for the visit of Brighton and that decision was rewarded as the Cottagers claimed another three points, ensuring they maintain their record of never losing to the Seagulls in the Premier League - winning four and drawing four.

Muniz once again demonstrated his importance to the side as he deputises for injured striker Raul Jimenez, scoring and assisting before leaving the field late in the game to a warm reception from the Fulham fans.

Jimenez was replaced by Muniz at half-time in the goalless draw against Everton on 31 January after suffering a hamstring injury, and reclaiming his spot in Fulham's starting line-up might prove difficult.

Muniz is in a rich vein of form and has helped Fulham enjoy their most consistent run of the campaign - they have lost only one of their past six league games, with three wins.

The Brazilian scored his first league goal of the season on 3 February in a 2-2 draw at Burnley, but has since chipped in with two in a win against Bournemouth, one in a loss to Aston Villa and another in the triumph over Brighton.

Not only did Muniz get on the scoresheet but his hard work and endeavour helped Wilson to score the opener.

Muniz showed strength and bravery as he stooped to head the ball away from Adam Webster and into the path of Wilson, who caressed the ball beyond Jason Steele with his left foot for his third league goal of the season.

With a two-goal cushion, Fulham knew that Brighton would have to attack more aggressively in the second half, but they stood firm and played some lovely counter-attacking football, eventually grabbing their third in that fashion as Traore calmly rolled the ball beyond Steele.

More to follow.

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Fulham

  1. Squad number17Player nameLeno

  2. Squad number21Player nameCastagne

  3. Squad number4Player nameTosin

  4. Squad number3Player nameBassey

  5. Squad number33Player nameRobinson

  6. Squad number6Player nameReed

  7. Squad number28Player nameLukic

  8. Squad number8Player nameWilson

  9. Squad number18Player nameAndreas Pereira

  10. Squad number22Player nameIwobi

  11. Squad number19Player nameRodrigo Muniz

  1. Squad number9Player nameBroja

  2. Squad number10Player nameCairney

  3. Squad number11Player nameTraoré

  4. Squad number14Player nameDe Cordova-Reid

  5. Squad number20Player nameWillian

Brighton & Hove Albion

  1. Squad number23Player nameSteele

  2. Squad number34Player nameVeltman

  3. Squad number5Player nameDunk

  4. Squad number4Player nameWebster

  5. Squad number2Player nameLamptey

  6. Squad number20Player nameBaleba

  7. Squad number29Player namevan Hecke

  8. Squad number30Player nameEstupiñán

  9. Squad number14Player nameLallana

  10. Squad number10Player nameEnciso

  11. Squad number28Player nameFerguson

  1. Squad number13Player nameGroß

  2. Squad number15Player nameModer

  3. Squad number24Player nameAdingra

  4. Squad number31Player nameAnsu Fati

  5. Squad number40Player nameBuonanotte

Line-ups

Fulham

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 17Leno
  • 21Castagne
  • 4Tosin
  • 3Bassey
  • 33Robinson
  • 6Reed
  • 28LukicSubstituted forDe Cordova-Reidat 88'minutesBooked at 89mins
  • 8WilsonSubstituted forTraoréat 84'minutes
  • 18PereiraSubstituted forCairneyat 69'minutes
  • 22IwobiSubstituted forWillianat 69'minutes
  • 19Muniz CarvalhoSubstituted forBrojaat 84'minutes

Substitutes

  • 1Rodák
  • 2Tete
  • 9Broja
  • 10Cairney
  • 11Traoré
  • 12Ballo-Touré
  • 13Ream
  • 14De Cordova-Reid
  • 20Willian

Brighton

Formation 3-4-2-1

  • 23Steele
  • 34Veltman
  • 5DunkSubstituted forGroßat 59'minutes
  • 4Webster
  • 2LampteySubstituted forAdingraat 45'minutes
  • 20BalebaBooked at 8minsSubstituted forModerat 78'minutes
  • 29van Hecke
  • 30EstupiñánBooked at 57mins
  • 14LallanaSubstituted forBuonanotteat 59'minutes
  • 10EncisoSubstituted forAnsu Fatiat 45'minutes
  • 28Ferguson

Substitutes

  • 1Verbruggen
  • 3dos Santos de Paulo
  • 13Groß
  • 15Moder
  • 18Welbeck
  • 19Barco
  • 24Adingra
  • 31Ansu Fati
  • 40Buonanotte

Referee:Simon Hooper

Attendance:24,460

Live Text

  1. Match ends, Fulham 3, Brighton and Hove Albion 0.

  2. Second Half ends, Fulham 3, Brighton and Hove Albion 0.

  3. Offside, Brighton and Hove Albion. Facundo Buonanotte is caught offside.

  4. Foul by Simon Adingra (Brighton and Hove Albion).

  5. Antonee Robinson (Fulham) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  6. Goal! Fulham 3, Brighton and Hove Albion 0. Adama Traoré (Fulham) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Bobby De Cordova-Reid following a fast break.

  7. Pascal Groß (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  8. Foul by Bobby De Cordova-Reid (Fulham).

  9. Corner, Brighton and Hove Albion. Conceded by Bernd Leno.

  10. Bobby De Cordova-Reid (Fulham) is shown the yellow card.

  11. Jakub Moder (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  12. Foul by Tom Cairney (Fulham).

  13. Substitution, Fulham. Bobby De Cordova-Reid replaces Sasa Lukic.

  14. Attempt saved. Pervis Estupiñán (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

  15. Offside, Brighton and Hove Albion. Simon Adingra is caught offside.

  16. Substitution, Fulham. Adama Traoré replaces Harry Wilson.

  17. Substitution, Fulham. Armando Broja replaces Rodrigo Muniz.

  18. Foul by Ansu Fati (Brighton and Hove Albion).

  19. Harrison Reed (Fulham) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  20. Offside, Fulham. Harry Wilson is caught offside.

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