'If his chest wasn't inflated' - Nigeria's top assister in PL history Iwobi reacts to Smith Rowe's disallowed goal

Despite two disallowed goals, Fulham made it back-to-back wins in London derbies on Saturday, beating Crystal Palace 2-0 at Selhurst Park, with Nigeria international Alex Iwobi providing an assist. 

Iwobi became Nigeria's all-time assist provider in Premier League history on September 21, 2024 when he teed up Emile Smith Rowe in a 3-1 win against Newcastle United at Craven Cottage, an honor he previously shared with the legendary Arsenal striker Nwankwo Kanu.

In first half stoppage time, Fulham broke the deadlock through Emile Smith Rowe, who slotted the ball home after an uncharacteristic mistake from Maxence Lacroix, who took a little too much time on the ball. 

Six minutes into the second half, three Hale End Academy products Reiss Nelson, Iwobi and Smith Rowe thought they combined to give the visitors a two-goal lead, but referee Michael Salisbury chalked off the goal by the England international following a VAR review. 

After receiving a pass from Nelson, Iwobi passed the ball across the face of the goal and it was finished off by Smith Rowe.

Speaking post-match, Iwobi humorously remarked that Smith Rowe wouldn't have been offside leading up to his goal if his chest hadn't been puffed out.

"I have been telling him, he has been doing uppers in the gym. I told him if his chest wasn't inflated it's a goal,” Iwobi said to FFC TV. 

"It was a nice counter attack from the back, it was a great team goal, just unfortunate it was not allowed to be a goal."

Iwobi wants the momentum to continue after wins against Brentford and Crystal Palace, a result that sees Fulham climb to seventh in the standings before the final international break of 2024. 

"Every time I have had the opportunity of playing there, it has always been difficult so the fact that we had a game plan, we stuck to it to be able to get a result as well as a good performance.

"It is credit to ourselves but it doesn't stop here, we have to keep on with this momentum."

Harry Wilson, who is establishing a reputation as a super-sub, sealed the win for Fulham in the 83rd minute, after a through ball from Iwobi, with the Nigerian notching his 31st career assist as a Premier League player. 

Having received a yellow card in the 63rd minute, Iwobi was walking a disciplinary tightrope and was replaced in the 89th minute with the outcome of the game all but decided.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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