Fulham coach Marco Silva praised the performances of Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey, who both found the net in a historic 2-1 victory against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Saturday.
Defender Bassey scored the opening goal for the Cottagers in the 65th minute.
However, Harry Maguire equalised for Manchester United with just a minute of normal time remaining, as the hosts pressed for a decisive winner.
However, Iwobi scored at the other end to win the game for Fulham right at the death.
Not only did the win end United's winning streak of five games across all competitions, but it also marked Fulham's first victory at Old Trafford since 2003 and their second away win in the Premier League this season.
Bassey and Iwobi earn high praise
After securing a historic victory over Manchester United, Silva, reflected on the significance of the win and the contributions of key players.
He highlighted the importance of scoring, especially for those returning from international duty, such as Bassey and Iwobi, who both found the back of the net during the match.
Silva emphasised their impact on the team's style of play and expressed satisfaction with their performance.
In his post-match comments, Silva remarked, “Of course, it’s always an important moment [scoring your first goal].
“But not just him this afternoon. The two players [Bassey and Iwobi] that were at the Africa Cup [of Nations].
“And that we miss them. They were decisive in terms of the goal.
“It just shows how they are important for us in the way I want to play, in our way. It’s really nice to see both scoring goals and helping us to win.”
Bassey scores first Fulham goal
Bassey completed a move to Fulham on July 28, 2023, signing a four-year contract after transferring from Dutch club Ajax. The transfer is estimated to be around €21 million.
Before facing Manchester United, the 24-year-old had made 16 appearances for Fulham but had not scored a goal yet.
By a quirk of fate, he got his first goal for the London outfit in a historic win at the Old Trafford. The Nigerian defender seized an opportunity from a corner kick delivered by Andreas Pereira.
While his initial attempt lacked precision, his follow-up strike with his non-dominant foot eluded Andre Onana and found the back of the net.
