It’s a bottom of the table clash this evening as Fulham take on Brighton at Craven Cottage.
The cottagers will take themselves out of the relegation zone tonight if Scott Parker’s team manage to get a point, whereas Brighton could end up in the relegation zone if they lose and Burnley beat Aston Villa tomorrow.
A win for the seagulls could see them move above Arsenal into 15th and five points clear of the drop zone.
Reece Heaton will take you through the action as it happens.
TEAM NEWS
Just the one change for the Fulham side that earned a hard fought point against Liverpool on the weekend.
Harrison Reed replaces Mario Lemina in the midfield.
Six changes for Brighton from the team that lost 3 – 0 to Leicester on Sunday.
Robert Sanchez, Tariq Lamptey, Adam Webster, Leandro Trossard, Adam Lallana and Steven Alzate replace Matt Ryan, Joel Veltman, Pascal Gross, Alireza Jahanbakhsh, Neil Maupay and Dan Burn.
Last Time Out:
Fulham came from two goals down at halftime to beat the Seagulls 4 – 2 at Craven Cottage in January 2019, Brighton were the only team that didn’t manage to beat Fulham in the 2018/19 season, can they change their luck tonight?
Here come the teams!
It’s a must win game for both sides this evening, kick-off is now imminent in West London.
KICK OFF
Fulham get the game underway, can they build on from their draw against Liverpool?
Embed from Getty Images2′ Ivan Cavaleiro cuts the ball onto his left foot outside of the central box, his effort is deflected into the path of Robert Sanchez who collects.
6′ Both teams making a slow start with a few sloppy passes, no real grip in the game for either side just yet.
10′ Brighton enjoying possession of the ball in the opening ten minutes of a nervous and cagey game but haven’t created anything just yet.
13′ Yves Bissouma momentarily walked off the pitch after a challenge from Harrison Reed left him down for a bit, the midfielder refreshes himself and returns to action.
Embed from Getty Images16′ Ademola Lookman delays his pass to Robinson who was making a dangerous run on the left, Brighton defenders get back in time as Robinson loses his balance and puts his effort wide.
17′ Bissouma has had some luck shooting from distance during his time at Brighton, but no luck with his effort this time as it’s collected by Areola.
24′ Good block from Ben White as Ademola Lookman looked to bend his shot into the right of the net from the left hand side of the box, still no clear cut chances for either side.
27′ Lallana does exceptionally well to feed Tariq Lamptey who is dashing down the right hand side, he manoeuvres a low cross into the box and awaiting is Danny Welbeck who can’t latch onto the ball in time, big chance for Brighton.
32′ Lamptey falls to the deck after going in for a fifty-fifty challenge with Ademola Lookman, the full back gets himself back up and play resumes.
Embed from Getty Images37′ Fulham have been excellent defensively in this first half, they’ve limited a Brighton side who love to dominate shots in games under Graham Potter.
39′ Areola is quick to punch Lamptey’s threatening cross away, the ball finds the feet of Lewis Dunk who skies his shot.
42′ A decent strike from Ivan Cavaleiro calls Roberto Sanchez into action as he tips it over for a Fulham corner, Adarabioyo meets the corner but his header goes over.
44′ Solly March makes a dazzling run down the left after being feed by Leandro Trossard, March smashes his attempt on target and Areola makes the save to give Brighton their first corner of the game.
45′ An additional of two minutes added at Craven Cottage.
Half Time – Fulham 0 – 0 Brighton
Both sides go in level at half time in what has been a game that has lacked quality going forward, will we see a change in the second half?
KICK OFF
Brighton resume play in West London, you’d think both teams will start to get desperate for that first goal now.
46′ Lively attack from Brighton, Webster makes the run from defence and feeds Welbeck who’s shot takes a deflection for an early corner of the second half.
47′ Lewis Dunk connects with the corner and his header is straight at Areola, it then rebounds to the skipper again and Areola collects comfortably.
48′ GOAL – Fulham 0 – 1 Brighton (Adam Lallana) Deadlock broken!
Adam Lallana scores his first goal for Brighton…. or has he? VAR are taking a look if Danny Welbeck handballed it in the build up.
49′ NO GOAL! Fulham 0 – 0 Brighton
Embed from Getty ImagesThe goal is ruled out and there doesn’t seem to be any complaints from Brighton about the decision.
52′ Fulham appeal for a penalty after Lookman claimed to have been fouled in the box by Adam Webster, VAR has a look but the decision is that it was a fair tackle.
55′ Brighton asking all of the questions now as they win a succession of corners and look the most likely to score, Graham Potter must have given them a good half time team talk.
57′ A dangerous cross from Leandro Trossard finds Lewis Dunk at the back post, he heads it across goal in hope to find a Brighton player latch onto it but it doesn’t happen and Fulham regain possession.
59′ Adam Webster smashes his header against the bar after a brilliant corner from Leandro Trossard, so unlucky…
61′ SUBSTITUTION
A double change for Fulham as they look to gain some control in this second half.
67′ Fulham are slowly starting to get onto the ball more, Brighton have been making it extremely difficult for them to get hold of possession.
68′ Brilliant save from Robert Sanchez as Webster slips and puts Loftus-Cheek through on goal, the Spaniard spreads himself and keeps the scores level, massive chance for Fulham wasted.
75′ Fifteen minutes left of the game and both sides are pushing for a winner, but who will get it? Antonee Robinson is booked after going through the back of Tariq Lamptey.
Embed from Getty Images76′ SUBSTITUTION
On comes Mitrovic, will he be Fulham’s hero tonight?
77′ Trossard has time to place his attempt on goal, but he loses balance and his effort goes over, extremely poor from the Belgian.
78′ SUBSTITUTION
Double change for Brighton as they search for a winner.
83′ Triple save from Roberto Sanchez, Lookman drives his shot straight at the Brighton keeper, and then saves the rebound and then desperately holds onto the ball, brilliant goalkeeping.
85′ SUBSTITUTION
Final change for Brighton this evening.
89′ Into the closing stages at Craven Cottage, both teams are feeding off scraps and hoping something falls for them but no luck is falling for either team.
90′ Three added minutes, can someone find a winner?
FULL TIME – Fulham 0 – 0 Brighton
Game over at Craven Cottage and both teams play out a 0 – 0 draw in a game where either side could’ve won it in the second half.
Brighton had their goal chalked off by VAR and will feel disappointed walking away from the game after their spell of dominance in the second half.
