Super Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi scored the decisive goal as Fulham secured their first Premier League victory of the season with a 1-0 win over Hull City on Saturday, easing the pressure on head coach Álvaro Arbeloa.
Iwobi’s deflected effort in the 33rd minute proved enough to lift Fulham off the bottom of the table after six league matches without a win.
The Nigerian midfielder curled a low shot from the edge of the penalty area that took a deflection off Lucas Herrington before slipping underneath Hull goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis.
The goal came in the 100th meeting between the two sides, with Hull punished after twice failing to clear their lines. Sander Berge collected the loose ball and played it into Iwobi’s path, allowing the former Arsenal and Everton player to find the net.
Fulham had shown promise in previous matches under Arbeloa, who replaced Marco Silva in July, but had struggled to turn their performances into victories.
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The win provided some relief for the Spaniard, who described the result as significant ahead of a demanding run of fixtures.
“It’s a massive game for us,” Arbeloa told BBC Match of the Day.
Fulham face Coventry away next Saturday before taking on Crystal Palace in the EFL Cup, a schedule the manager described as “a massive week”.
He said: “It won’t be easy, but we know how we need to play and compete. We have to be competitive in this league. We have our way and hope we can win many games.”
Fulham controlled much of the contest, creating several opportunities while limiting Hull’s attacking threat.
Mohamed Belloumi’s dragged effort in the second half was among the visitors’ better attempts, while Gonzalo García struck the crossbar with a header as Fulham searched for a second goal.
The hosts’ victory was marred late in stoppage time when substitute Ryan Sessegnon received a straight red card for a studs-up challenge on the back of Robinio Vaz’s calf.
Despite the late dismissal, Arbeloa praised his players for maintaining their intensity and controlling the match.
He said: “We were having the same feeling as other matches, when we were controlling the game for long spells and having good chances but didn’t score.
“Our rivals punish our mistakes or take their chances, but we were brilliant for 90 minutes.
“We controlled the game, had many chances and didn’t concede any clear chances to Hull.
“We have been working so hard and deserved this.”
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