Post Match report for the Fulham game - Saturday, 24th January 2026
PREMIER LEAGUE 25/26: Fulham V Brighton - 24/1/26 P23
* * * * * MUGGED IN THE COTTAGE * * * * *
RESULT: 2-1 ~ Ayari . (h-t 0-1)
VENUE: Craven Cottage, London SW6 - twelfth away match of 23 fixtures to date . Sat 3:00pm.
BEFORE KICKOFF: travelling support was back in the capital having had two trips into the greater metropolis between Xmas & New Year - then twice since up to Manchester for respective league & cup action.
We had never won here as a Prem outfit.
In truth we had gained merely one point from a possible fifteen to date.
WEATHER: cool . GATE: 27,239 . KIT: yellow . ATMOSPHERE: more misery by the river.
FABIAN HURZELER had seen comments concerning this squad as being the best ever. His task was to make this a fact.
FH consulted all relevant information & reports and in conclusion made his own mind up for selections.
SQUAD: 7 March 8 Gruda 14 Watson 38 McGill (gk) . IN: 30 Gross
INJURED: 27 Wieffer . REHAB: 4 Webster 9 Tzimas
OOL: 3 Julio 16 Cashin 28 Ferguson 32 Sarmiento 33 ORiley 39 Rushworth (gk) 40 Buonanotte
STARTING SHAPE: 4-3-3
TEAM . . . . . . . . . 1 Verbruggen
. 24 Kadioglu 6 van Hecke 5 Dunk 21 Boscagli
. . 25 Gomez 17 Baleba 26 Ayari 22 Mitoma
. . . . . . 30 Gross . . . . 18 Welbeck
SUBS: 11 Minteh (81), 20 Milner (81), 10 Rutter (99), 19 Kostoulas (88), 29 de Cuyper (88)
BENCH: 23 Steele 13 Hinshelwood 34 Veltman 42 Coppola
GOALS:
0-1 - 28 . AYARI drives an unstoppable strike that catches the keeper out on the way into goal.
1-1 - 72 . hosts score an equaliser on the break as the away outfit blunder in defence.
2-1 - 92 . a home f-k evades Verbruggen a little too easily following more defensive mistakes.
YELLOWS: Kostoulas 91
CHANGES: 81 Minteh & Milner for Gomez & Baleba
88 Rutter, Kostoulas & de Cuyper for Gross, Welbeck & Boscagli
FIRST HALF: opening phases were like a mobile chess match and from alternate mid-field inter-play remained goalless.
Visitors open scoring inside half an hour with their first attempt on target. Then maintain positive momentum.
SECOND HALF: past the hour mark travellers led in what appeared to be a single goal game of equal opportunities.
Locals level following introduction of home subs.
Very late away subs upset balance of the game.
The home team score in stoppage time.
IN THE END: at least a point thrown away by Seagulls when the game-plan shattered completely in closing moments.
NUMBERS: poss 50%-50%, on target 4-5, off target 8-8, corners 6-6,
fouls 10-6, yellows 1-1, subs 4-5, shape 4231-433 . . . . . gd2 pt30 po12
FS
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