Fulham secured their first league win of the season with a 1-0 victory over Hull City at Craven Cottage on Saturday. Alex Iwobi struck the winner in the 33rd minute, lifting the home side off the foot of the Premier League table and out of the bottom three.
The goal came after a poor clearance from Brooke Norton-Cuffy. Sander Berge took possession and laid the ball back to Iwobi, whose driven finish squirmed through goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis. The keeper could point to a slight deflection, but it was a poor error.
The result provided valuable breathing room for Alvaro Arbeloa, whose position had come under scrutiny after failing to win any of his first six league matches in charge. Fulham had dropped eight points from winning positions this season, including five when they had led inside the final two minutes, and their wastefulness after going in front was alarming, if not ultimately costly.
Gonzalo Garcia spurned a golden opportunity when he headed against the crossbar from six yards. Fulham may yet find their position remains perilous if they continue to give up chances like this.
Hull were a pale impression of the team that had begun the season with such attacking ambition, and the passiveness with which they approached a game against the side propping up the league will have been of concern for Sergej Jakirovic.
Fulham held on despite Ryan Sessegnon, on as a late substitute, being dismissed with virtually the last action for leaving his studs on Robinio Vaz, though there was clearly no violent intent behind his challenge.