Alex Iwobi scored with Fulham’s only two shots on target to lead them to a 3-1 Premier League win over Brighton & Hove Albion on Thursday, after a major blunder by Brighton keeper Bart Verbruggen had gifted the hosts an early lead.

Iwobi got on the scoresheet in the fourth minute when Verbruggen tried to play the ball out but passed it straight to the Fulham forward who tapped into the far corner of the open net.

“We know that Brighton like to play out from the back so we came up with a structure and it obviously worked for the first goal,” Iwobi told Amazon Prime. “We take it, however it goes in, a goal is a goal.”

Brighton captain Lewis Dunk said the goal should not have counted because he was fouled on the play.

“How the ref or VAR can’t see it, it is what it is,” Dunk said. “It’s annoying. If you watch the replay, it’s a clear foul, a push in my back.”

Brighton did look the more dangerous team and Carlos Baleba grabbed the equaliser in the 56th minute when Joao Pedro laid the ball off with a backheel and the midfielder fired in a blistering low shot before celebrating with a backflip.

Fulham retook the lead in the 79th minute on a wet and windy night at Craven Cottage when Andreas Pereira lashed in a corner which hit the back of Brighton’s Matt O’Riley and went into the net.

Iwobi completed his brace eight minutes later when he latched on to a pass from Antonee Robinson and spun past a defender before shooting into the far corner.

“It was a big three points for us in a tough game,” Fulham manager Marco Silva said. “We started in the best way possible with the early goal but Brighton made it really difficult for us in the first half.

“Second half we were much better. We conceded in a moment we should prepare better for the long ball. It was a good shot from the edge of the box. Difficult game but a big three points for us.”

Fulham climbed to sixth in the league table, one point behind fifth-placed Brighton, whose manager Fabian Hurzeler watched from the stands in frustration while serving a touchline ban.

His team squandered several good chances, including a strike from Pedro that Bernd Leno palmed aside and Simon Adingra fired straight at the Fulham keeper from a pinpoint cross by Kaoru Mitoma.

“I don’t think the scoreline reflects the game,” Dunk said. “We picked ourselves up and I thought we were the better team, but that’s football.”

-Reuters

Ruud van Nistelrooy savoured his first match in charge of Leicester City with a 3-1 English Premier League home win over West Ham United on Dec 3, while Crystal Palace edged Ipswich Town 1-0.

Jamie Vardy, Bilal El Khannouss and Patson Daka got the goals as van Nistelrooy enjoyed a dream start to his new role shortly after his departure from Manchester United.

“On a long-term basis we know the performances need to get better. But the spirit and how we want to do things we saw them today,” said the Dutchman.

“In the end you look at the result and the three points, it’s vital.

“We know the level in the Premier League and we know every game we play that everything has to be right. We have to train and develop our defence, our counter attack, our possession.

“Lots of things to work on but very happy with the three points.”

A lethal finisher in his playing days, van Nistelrooy watched on approvingly as Vardy opened the scoring after just 99 seconds at the King Power Stadium.

The 37-year-old had initially been flagged offside, but a VAR (video assistant referee) review showed he was clearly on for his fifth goal of the season.

Defeat ramps up the scrutiny of Hammers boss Julen Lopetegui after a seventh defeat in 14 Premier League games.

The visitors enjoyed the majority of possession and had 31 shots to Leicester’s eight but failed to make it count.

“A frustrating night because we deserved much more today,” said Lopetegui. “Normally we have to win this match but we didn’t because we didn’t score.”

West Ham did have a goal controversially ruled out when Leicester goalkeeper Mads Hermansen punched the ball into his own net and was relieved to be awarded a foul due to minimal contact from Tomas Soucek.

Conor Coady also cleared off the line from Crysencio Summerville in the second half.

But Leicester remained a threat on the counter-attack and doubled their lead when El Khannouss coolly stroked home Kasey McAteer’s pass.

Daka then blasted in to make it 3-0 before Niclas Fuellkrug netted a late consolation with his first West Ham goal.

Elsewhere, Jean-Philippe Mateta scored the only goal at Portman Road as Palace won the battle of two more sides at the bottom end of the table.

The Frenchman produced a classy finish from Eberechi Eze’s pass on the hour mark to secure the Eagles’ first away win of the season.

Palace pull three points clear of the bottom three, before another round of fixtures on Dec 4, while Ipswich remain second from bottom and winless at home on their return to the top flight.

However, Palace captain Marc Guehi is now at risk of a suspension after defying a Football Association warning over displaying religious messages.

As part of the “Rainbow Laces” campaign to show support for the LGBTQ+ community, Premier League captains are wearing rainbow-coloured armbands.

Guehi’s armband bore the message “I love Jesus” during their 1-1 draw against Newcastle last weekend, prompting the FA to contact Guehi and Palace and remind them of rules forbidding the display of religious messages.

The England defender doubled down on his message with “Jesus loves you” displayed on his rainbow-coloured armband.

“Everyone now is about integration, no discrimination and Marc as well,” said Palace boss Oliver Glasner. “He has his opinion and we accept and respect every opinion.”

Ipswich captain Sam Morsy, who also caused controversy by opting not to wear the rainbow armband against Nottingham Forest at the weekend, once again wore a regular armband.

His club issued a statement on Dec 2 saying he chose not to wear the rainbow armband due to his religious beliefs.

-AFP

 Ruud van Nistelrooy was disappointed to leave Manchester United after his successful spell as interim coach came to an end but the Dutchman said he understands why new manager Ruben Amorim wanted to bring his own assistants into the club.

Van Nistelrooy, who was appointed Leicester City manager at the end of last month, went unbeaten in his four games in charge at United following Erik ten Hag’s dismissal, having previously served as his compatriot’s assistant.

“I was disappointed, yeah, very much so, and it hurt that I had to leave,” he told reporters on Monday.

“The only job I would take as an assistant was at United because of the bond that I have with the people in the club and the fans. But in the end I got my head round it because I also understand the new manager.

“I spoke to Ruben Amorim about it, the conversation was grateful, man to man, manager to manager, and that helped a lot to move on and straightaway get into talks with new possibilities which lifted my spirits.”

Van Nistelrooy scored 150 goals in a highly successful five-year stint at United before moving to Real Madrid but the former striker said he has the battling qualities to help 16th-placed Leicester avoid relegation.

“People see Real Madrid, Manchester United, but my first three seasons as a professional were in Dutch football with FC Den Bosch, so I know what it’s like to fight,” he added.

Leicester host West Ham United in the Premier League later on Tuesday.

-Reuters