Under-pressure Alvaro Arbeloa earned the first Premier League win of his managerial career as Fulham beat Hull City 1-0 at Craven Cottage to climb out of the relegation zone.
With pre-match talk of his position relying on the next two fixtures after a difficult start to the season, the Spaniard got the response he needed as Alex Iwobi's first-half goal secured three vital points.
Iwobi struck in the 34th minute, finishing a sweeping move as his effort trickled through goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis' arms. Fulham dominated the first half, registering 10 shots, and continued to create chances after the break. Josh King was denied one-on-one before Tzolakis produced another important save to keep out Iwobi.
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Fulham should have extended their lead, with Iwobi curling narrowly wide before his excellent cross found Gonzalo Garcia, whose header struck the crossbar in the 74th minute. Hull struggled to impose themselves for much of the contest, although Fulham could not find the second goal to put the game beyond the visitors.
The closing stages brought late drama when Ryan Sessegnon was sent off in stoppage time for a late challenge on Robinio Vaz, catching the Hull substitute around the heel and Achilles area.
Fulham were reduced to 10 men for the final moments, but held on to secure a crucial victory.
More to follow...
The key moments from Craven Cottage
3: IWOBI GOES CLOSE! Iwobi curls an early effort over the bar as Fulham make a positive start.
34: FULHAM SCORE! Iwobi finishes a sweeping move to put Fulham ahead, although goalkeeper Tzolakis should do better as the ball trickles through his arms.
54: BIG TZOLAKIS SAVE! The Hull goalkeeper denies King after a neat give-and-go with Charles.
58: ANOTHER BIG SAVE! Iwobi goes one-on-one with Tzolakis after some superb one-touch play, but the goalkeeper comes out on top.
70: IWOBI GOES CLOSE! The Fulham midfielder curls an effort narrowly wide as the hosts look for a second.
74: OFF THE BAR! Garcia meets Iwobi's superb inswinging cross with a header, but the ball crashes against the crossbar.
82: HULL WANT A PENALTY! Gelhardt goes down in the Fulham area, but the referee waves away the visitors' appeals.
90: SESSEGNON SENT OFF! The Fulham substitute is shown a red card for a late challenge on Vaz, catching the Hull player around the heel and Achilles area.
Analysis: A turning point for Arbeloa?
Analysis by Sky Sports' William Bitibiri at Craven Cottage:
"Could this be the turning point in Alvaro Arbeloa's Fulham reign?
"It is certainly a start. With reports suggesting the Spaniard had two games to save his job, he needed a response and his players delivered one.
"Fulham played with an intensity and attacking fluency that had been missing during their winless start to the Premier League season.
"They registered 10 first-half shots, moved the ball quickly and repeatedly exposed a Hull side who struggled to impose themselves. Alex Iwobi's goal was deserved, but the hosts could easily have won by a greater margin.
"There were encouraging signs of an identity taking shape, with the performance even prompting thoughts of 'Arbeloa-ball' at Craven Cottage.
"Yet one result cannot erase the concerns of the opening weeks, and Fulham made the closing stages unnecessarily nervy before Ryan Sessegnon's stoppage-time red card.
"The win lifts them out of the relegation zone and gives Arbeloa breathing space.
"Whether it proves a turning point depends on what follows. For now, he has bought himself time and shown what his Fulham side can be."
What the result means and next fixtures...
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