Iwobi's Goal Gives Arbeloa a First Premier League Win as Fulham Beat Hull 1-0
Alex Iwobi's 34th-minute finish was enough at Craven Cottage, lifting Fulham out of the relegation zone despite a stoppage-time red card for Ryan Sessegnon.
Fulham beat Hull City 1-0 at Craven Cottage on Saturday, giving head coach Alvaro Arbeloa his first Premier League win, per Sky Sports.
The goal
Alex Iwobi scored in the 34th minute, finishing a sweeping Fulham move. His shot trickled through the arms of Hull goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis, Sky Sports reports. Iwobi had already curled an effort over the bar in the third minute.
Chances to extend the lead
Fulham could have won by more. After the break, Tzolakis saved from Josh King after a give-and-go with Charles in the 54th minute, then stopped Iwobi one-on-one in the 58th. Iwobi curled another effort narrowly wide in the 70th, and Gonzalo Garcia headed Iwobi's inswinging cross against the crossbar in the 74th. Sky's analyst William Bitibiri said Iwobi's goal "was deserved, but the hosts could easily have won by a greater margin."
Hull had a penalty appeal in the 82nd minute when Gelhardt went down; the referee waved it away.
A late red card
In the 90th minute plus four, Fulham substitute Ryan Sessegnon was sent off for a late challenge on Hull substitute Robinio Vaz, catching him around the heel and Achilles area, per Sky. Fulham finished with ten men.
What they said
Arbeloa said: "My players believe in our ideas and they play the way that we were playing even when we were losing games." On the pressure of the job he added: "Pressure is a privilege. I am here because I want the best for Fulham, for this club."
Hull head coach Sergej Jakirovic was blunt: "They were much, much better than us and congratulations to them. We were very, very poor. We collapsed together."
What it means
Sky says the result lifted Fulham out of the relegation zone; it did not specify their league position. For Hull, the defeat leaves Jakirovic's side with questions to answer after a performance he himself called poor.