Liverpool icon Michael Owen blames Bassey for goal conceded by Fulham in west London derby

Wales international Harry Wilson rescued Fulham from defeat after coming off the bench to score a stoppage time brace during a west London derby against Brentford at Craven Cottage on Monday night. 

Nigeria internationals Calvin Bassey and Alex Iwobi made their tenth consecutive Premier League start for the Cottagers and were in action for the entirety of the game.

Fulham created the most clear-cut chances in the opening fifteen minutes, but Raúl Jiménez, Reiss Nelson and Emile Smith Rowe were unable to convert their efforts.

Fulham were made to pay for their missed chances midway through the first half when Vitaly Janelt unleashed a powerful shot from roughly 25 yards out that flew past goalkeeper Bernd Leno.

After Bassey made a mistake in controlling the ball, Janelt saw the gap and didn't hesitate to try his luck from distance.

In the 45th minute, Vitaly Janelt came close to netting a second goal with a placed shot that looked destined for the net, but Bassey got a slight touch to deflect it wide.

Speaking at the end of the first half, Liverpool icon Michael Owen highlighted that Bassey committed a costly error leading up to the goal scored by Janelt.

In a Premier League Productions programme monitored by allnigeriasoccer.com on Monday night, Owen said: "Nobody was closing him down, and of course as I said Bassey probably made the poor touch to start with to give the ball away.

"He found that little bit of space and some managers like encouraging their team to strike the ball from outside the box." 

Fulham have conceded more goals from outside the box and long range shots than any other team in this season's Premier League.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

Copyright ANS
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from allnigeriasoccer.com