Brighton’s wait for a first top-flight win away to Fulham in their 125-year history will go on for another season at least after a Harry Wilson free-kick in stoppage time sealed a fantastic comeback for Marco Silva’s men.
Wilson’s spectacular 92nd-minute winner proved too hot to handle for Brighton keeper Bart Verbruggen — and left his manager Fabian Hurzeler bemoaning the ‘brutal’ nature of football.
Brighton, who went in front through Yasin Ayari, had led for 44 minutes and looked set for a historic victory. They were also denied a second goal by a narrow VAR offside call against Danny Welbeck, either side of Samuel Chukwueze’s equaliser and Wilson’s last-minute showstopper.
‘That’s football,’ said Hurzeler, whose side have only won one of their last 10 league games. ‘Some people might be worried, but I see the team sticking together. Sometimes you need luck in football and we need to get the luck back.’
Harry Wilson celebrates his stoppage-time free-kick that won the game for Fulham
Samuel Chukwueze scored to bring Fulham back into the game having gone 1-0 down
Fulham must tie down wing wizard
‘He’s done it again, he’s done it again… Harry Wilson, he’s done it again.’ The song was belted out by the home fans at full time here at Craven Cottage, and no wonder.
With 17 goals and assists in his last 17 games for club and country, Welshman Wilson is quite simply in the form of his life. He has always been capable of scoring wonder goals – and there was another for his extensive collection here – but for the first time in his career he is delivering week in, week out, from the start, at the top level.
The only downside for Fulham? Wilson is out of contract at the end of the season.
So while his form will be putting smiles on faces every week in the stands, there will be a few furrowed brows in the boardroom. A club of Fulham’s stature cannot afford to let a player of Wilson’s ability walk out the door for free.
But surely they cannot countenance selling him either, with the form he’s in and while sitting just a few points out of the Champions League spots.
It’s a bind, albeit with a seemingly obvious solution – give the most in-form player in the Premier League a bumper new contract. Trouble is, Wilson is said to want clarity on Marco Silva’s future – his manager is also out of contract at the end of the season – before committing, while Aston Villa and Everton are among the clubs monitoring his situation.
‘He (Wilson) has been incredible,’ said Silva after full time on Saturday. ‘Very, very, very good. He’s on a great run. It’s the best moment of his career. Sometimes everything comes together – he’s matured, his decision-making (has improved). He’s helping the team, enjoying his football, he’s a humble guy.
‘We are in the fight to keep him. It’s not going to be easy, much more clubs are going to be around him (because of his form). He’s happy in our football club and it’s up to the club to do the maximum they can to keep him. It’s going to be a challenge because he’s playing so well.’
Wilson has overperformed his expected goals (xG) more than any other player in the League this season. He will be rewarded financially for it – it’s just a question who will be signing the cheques.
Wilson has 17 goals and assists in his last 17 games for club and country
Marco Silva’s men won in dramatic fashion but there remain doubts over the manager’s future
Silva subs work a treat
‘Kevin Robinson’ sounds a little like your sister’s first boyfriend or an accountant from Guildford, but it’s also the two players Silva hooked as he chased an equaliser here.
Brazilian winger Kevin and full back Antonee Robinson were having little joy down the left flank and so Silva turned to Ryan Sessegnon and Chukwueze on his bench.
Chukwueze duly levelled the scores soon after, racing onto a hopeful punt forward from Joachim Andersen and sidefooting past Bart Verbruggen from a tight angle. Good, proactive subs from Silva – and they worked a treat.
