- Bobby De Cordova-Reid - 53'
- Wes Foderingham - 76' OG
- Willian - 90'+2'
- Antonee Robinson - 68' OG
Fulham beat Sheffield United 3-1 after horror injury to Basham
(Adds quotes, details)
LONDON, Oct 7 (Reuters) - Fulham secured a comfortable 3-1 win over Sheffield United at Craven Cottage on Saturday to leave the visitors bottom of the Premier League table, in a game overshadowed by a horrible injury to United's Chris Basham.
Fulham wrapped up the game in added time when Willian first attempted a cross and then gathered the headed clearance in the visitors' area before getting his shot away which the keeper got a hand to but couldn't prevent finding the bottom corner.
"A class player and incredible to get the goal. I know what he is capable of doing," Fulham manager Marco Silva said about Willian.
Fulham went 2-1 up in the 76th minute when Tom Cairney appeared to slip as he shot from distance and his looping effort hit the underside of the bar before going in off the back of keeper Wes Foderingham.
That goal came eight minutes after the visitors had levelled through an own-goal by Antonee Robinson, which came in controversial circumstances.
Issa Diop pulled up injured when in possession but the visitors' James McAtee gathered the ball before playing it out wide to Yasser Larouci, and his ball across the face of the goal was turned into his own net by Robinson.
"I thought our reaction was good to the goal and we deserved the three points. We played at a good level," the Fulham boss said.
After a scoreless first half, Fulham broke the deadlock in the 53rd minute when Andreas Pereira played a perfect ball into the path of Bobby Decordova-Reid who bided his time before firing past Foderingham.
The first half saw Basham go off seriously injured after going over on his ankle when attempting a cross. The medical staff were on the scene immediately and there was a lengthy stop in play before United's captain was taken from the pitch.
"He's where he needs to be, in the hospital with the doctors. No one wants to see that ever, I have been on the pitch with a team mate, when it's one of your players it's tough," United manager Paul Heckingbottom said.
The opening half saw little in the way of clear-cut chances, but it was the home side who seemed the likelier to score.
Fulham's best chance in the first half came in the 19th minute when Carlos Vinicius showed his strength in holding off Anel Ahmedhodzic before teeing up Willian, but his shot after a good first touch brought a fine save from Foderingham.
United failed to create a single attempt on goal in the first half, and although they improved after the break, it wasn't enough and they remain without a win and with just one point.
"You get what you deserve and at the minute things are going against us and there is only us who can get ourselves out of it," Heckingbottom said.
Fulham's third win of the season sees them move on to 11 points.
(Reporting by Trevor Stynes Editing by Toby Davis)
Game Information
- Referees:
- Samuel Barrott
English Premier League Standings
Team | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liverpool | 15 | 11 | 3 | 1 | +18 | 36 |
Chelsea | 16 | 10 | 4 | 2 | +18 | 34 |
Arsenal | 17 | 9 | 6 | 2 | +18 | 33 |
Nottingham Forest | 17 | 9 | 4 | 4 | +4 | 31 |
Aston Villa | 17 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 28 |
Manchester City | 17 | 8 | 3 | 6 | +4 | 27 |
Newcastle United | 17 | 7 | 5 | 5 | +6 | 26 |
AFC Bournemouth | 16 | 7 | 4 | 5 | +3 | 25 |
Brighton & Hove Albion | 17 | 6 | 7 | 4 | +1 | 25 |
Fulham | 16 | 6 | 6 | 4 | +2 | 24 |
Tottenham Hotspur | 16 | 7 | 2 | 7 | +17 | 23 |
Brentford | 17 | 7 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 23 |
Manchester United | 16 | 6 | 4 | 6 | +2 | 22 |
West Ham United | 17 | 5 | 5 | 7 | -8 | 20 |
Crystal Palace | 17 | 3 | 7 | 7 | -8 | 16 |
Everton | 15 | 3 | 6 | 6 | -7 | 15 |
Leicester City | 16 | 3 | 5 | 8 | -13 | 14 |
Ipswich Town | 17 | 2 | 6 | 9 | -16 | 12 |
Wolverhampton Wanderers | 16 | 2 | 3 | 11 | -16 | 9 |
Southampton | 16 | 1 | 2 | 13 | -25 | 5 |