Fulham Edge Past Brighton to Climb to Sixth in the Premier League

Fulham secured a vital 3-1 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion at a rain-soaked Craven Cottage, moving up to sixth in the Premier League table. Alex Iwobi was the star of the show, scoring twice to extend Fulham’s unbeaten record against Brighton in the league to nine matches. Despite a spirited performance from the visitors, who dominated large spells and boasted a superior expected goals (xG) tally of 1.34 to Fulham’s 0.68, it was the Cottagers who claimed all three points.

The match began in difficult conditions, with heavy rain and strong winds testing both sides. Brighton’s goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen was the first to falter, gifting Fulham an early lead. The Dutchman’s underhit pass was intercepted by Alex Iwobi, who capitalized on the error by calmly slotting into an empty net.

Brighton rallied in the second half, showing resilience and attacking intent. They deservedly drew level through Carlos Baleba, who unleashed a stunning strike to bring the Seagulls back into contention. However, Fulham responded with tenacity, and Matt O’Riley’s unfortunate own goal restored the hosts' lead. Iwobi then sealed the victory late on, scoring his second of the game and continuing his fine form.

This marked Iwobi’s fourth consecutive Premier League game contributing either a goal or an assist, taking his tally to three goals and two assists in that run. The Nigerian international also celebrated only his second brace in 267 Premier League appearances.

For Brighton, the defeat highlighted their ongoing struggles in London. They are now winless in their last 10 Premier League visits to the capital (D4 L6), a drought dating back to 1967. Despite their enterprising play, Fabian Hurzeler's side was left to rue missed opportunities and defensive lapses.

The win extends Fulham’s impressive record against Brighton in the Premier League, having never lost in nine encounters (W5 D4). Next up for Marco Silva’s side is a tough test against title contenders Arsenal at Craven Cottage on Sunday. Meanwhile, Brighton will look to bounce back when they travel to Leicester City.

Key Stats:

• Alex Iwobi: Fulham’s talisman scored twice, extending his scoring streak to four consecutive Premier League games.

• xG Battle: Brighton (1.34) outperformed Fulham (0.68) in expected goals, highlighting their attacking threat despite the loss.

• Winless in London: Brighton’s struggles in the capital continue, with their last league win in the city coming over a decade ago.

This result reinforces Fulham's aspirations for European football, while Brighton will need to regroup to stay competitive in the race for a top-half finish.