EPL: Iwobi’s goal ends Fulham’s winless streak in Premier League

Super Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi scored the decisive goal as Fulham defeated Hull City 1-0 on Saturday, recording their first Premier League victory of the season and easing the pressure on manager Álvaro Arbeloa.

Iwobi broke the deadlock in the 33rd minute with a low effort from outside the penalty area. His shot took a deflection off Lucas Herrington before slipping beneath Hull goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis and finding the back of the net.

The goal proved enough to secure maximum points for Fulham, who had struggled to convert their performances into victories under Arbeloa, appointed in July to replace Marco Silva.

The result ended the Cottagers’ six-match winless run in the league and lifted them from the bottom of the table.

Fulham dominated much of the encounter, creating several opportunities while limiting Hull’s attacking threat. The visitors struggled to trouble the home defence, with Mohamed Belloumi’s wayward second-half attempt among their few notable efforts.

Gonzalo García also came close to extending Fulham’s advantage, but his header struck the crossbar as the hosts pushed for a second goal.

Speaking after the match, Arbeloa described the victory as significant, particularly after several previous performances had failed to produce the desired results.

The Fulham manager acknowledged that his team had repeatedly controlled matches and created scoring opportunities without securing victories.

He said the players deserved the result after working hard and maintaining their dominance throughout the contest.

Arbeloa added that Fulham had been punished in previous matches for mistakes and missed opportunities, but praised their defensive organisation and attacking efforts against Hull.

The manager also warned that his side faced a challenging week, with an away Premier League fixture against Coventry scheduled for next Saturday before an EFL Cup encounter with Crystal Palace.

However, Fulham’s victory was overshadowed by a late dismissal. Substitute Ryan Sessegnon received a straight red card deep into stoppage time for a dangerous challenge on Robinio Vaz, striking the back of the opponent’s calf with his studs.

Iwobi’s match-winning contribution will nevertheless provide Fulham with renewed confidence as they seek to build momentum and improve their position in the Premier League standings.