Manager Marco Silva commended the in-form striker Rodrigo Muniz for his contribution, as he both scored and assisted in Fulham’s victory over Brighton in the Premier League at Craven Cottage.
Harry Wilson elegantly curled in the opening goal, initiating Fulham’s momentum after Muniz’s determined effort to regain possession high up the field.
The roles were reversed for the second goal, with Wilson providing a delightful cross for Muniz to head home from six yards out. This marked Muniz’s fifth goal of the season, with all five strikes coming in the past five games.
“He is improving, improving and improving,” Silva said.
“We are working on many things and he’s getting better. It was a great goal from him. We know he is strong if we provide in those areas.
“The way he linked the game was great too. He was really important throughout the game and it was another important performance.
“That’s not a surprise for us because he did it last weekend too.”
Despite two goals in the first half, extended periods of uninspired and uneventful football characterized the match, with Brighton maintaining 70% possession but struggling to craft meaningful opportunities.
The game’s tempo intensified significantly after halftime, with Brighton introducing attacking duo Simon Adingra and Ansu Fati, committing more players forward in search of an equalizer.
Evan Ferguson squandered two significant chances, the first narrowly missing the far post and the second being thwarted by a diving Bernd Leno. Substitute Facundo Buonanotte also came close, striking the base of the post.
As the match entered stoppage time, with every Brighton outfield player pushing into opposition territory, Fulham capitalized on a turnover near the halfway line. Bobby de Cordova-Reid surged forward and delivered a pass for Adama Traore to score his inaugural goal for the club.
Fulham maintains their 12th position in the table, while Brighton slips to ninth.
Fulham build on Old Trafford success
Following last weekend’s thrilling late victory at Manchester United, Fulham ensured that their hard-fought triumph wasn’t squandered, securing back-to-back wins in the league for only the second time this season.
Silva opted for an unchanged starting XI against Brighton, a decision that paid off handsomely as the Cottagers clinched another three points, maintaining their unbeaten record against the Seagulls in the Premier League – securing four wins and four draws.
Once again, Muniz showcased his pivotal role in the team, stepping up in the absence of injured striker Raul Jimenez. He contributed both a goal and an assist before receiving a warm reception from the Fulham faithful as he left the field late in the game.
Having replaced Jimenez at half-time due to a hamstring injury during the goalless draw against Everton on January 31st, reclaiming his starting spot in Fulham’s lineup may prove challenging for Muniz.
However, the Brazilian forward is currently in exceptional form, contributing significantly to Fulham’s most consistent run of the campaign. They have suffered just one defeat in their last six league games, securing three victories in the process.
Muniz netted his first league goal of the season on February 3rd in a 2-2 draw against Burnley, and since then, he has added two more goals in a win against Bournemouth, one in a loss to Aston Villa, and another in the triumph over Brighton.
Not only did Muniz find the back of the net himself, but his tireless work and determination also facilitated Wilson’s opening goal. Demonstrating strength and bravery, Muniz headed the ball away from Adam Webster, setting up Wilson to elegantly guide the ball beyond Jason Steele with his left foot for his third league goal of the season.
With a comfortable two-goal lead, Fulham anticipated Brighton’s more aggressive attacking play in the second half. However, they remained resolute, displaying excellent defensive solidity and executing delightful counter-attacking moves. Eventually, they sealed their third goal in such fashion as Traore calmly slotted the ball beyond Steele.
Brighton fall well short
Brighton manager Roberto de Zerbi expressed concerns about fatigue among some of his players following their 1-0 loss to Wolves in the FA Cup fifth round on Wednesday.
The Italian coach opted for seven changes to his starting XI against Fulham, with Pascal Gross, who experienced cramping issues at Molineux, among those relegated to the bench.
With a crucial first-leg tie against Roma in the last 16 looming, De Zerbi seems to be facing challenges in squad depth, exacerbated by the recent news of Japan winger Kaoru Mitoma’s season-ending injury.
The match against Fulham showcased a typical Brighton performance for the most part, characterized by sustained possession. However, they lacked the creative edge needed to trouble their opponents in the attacking third during the first half, ultimately conceding on the counter.
Although they showed signs of threat after halftime, with Evan Ferguson having two opportunities on goal, the Republic of Ireland striker extended his goal drought to 19 games across all competitions.
This fixture marks the second in a demanding five-match stretch within 16 days for Brighton. With two crucial encounters against Roma ahead, De Zerbi must guide his players to quickly move past this setback to avoid slipping into a negative trend.