'Really poor from Bassey' - Watford icon calls out PL's most error-prone player after mistake v Newcastle

Watford legend Troy Deeney has criticised Calvin Bassey for the defensive mistake that led to Newcastle United’s opening goal in Fulham's Premier League clash on Saturday at St James' Park.

With the game still goalless, the Nigerian defender was dispossessed under pressure by Jacob Murphy, who drove into the box before firing a low effort in off the base of the post to give Newcastle the lead.

Bassey, who had earned praise from manager Marco Silva in his pre-match press conference, was caught on the ball just outside his own penalty area, allowing Murphy to punish Fulham's lapse in concentration.

The error proved costly as Bruno Guimaraes scored a dramatic 90th-minute winner to seal a 2-1 victory for Newcastle, after Sasa Lukic had earlier drawn Fulham level in the second half.

Deeney described the Nigerian defender's decision-making as awful, adding that he was punished for spending too much time on the ball.

"Really really poor from Calvin Bassey, dilly-dallying on the ball," Troy Deeney said on BBC's Final score.

"You're not going to catch this guy (Jacob Murphy) in a foot race. It's a wonderful finish, in off the far post and the goalkeeper has no chance. Newcastle deserve it."

Against the Magpies, Bassey was reinstated in Fulham's starting XI after beginning last weekend's clash with Arsenal on the bench, having just returned from international duty with Nigeria.

The Leicester City academy graduate has made the most errors leading to goals in the Premier League this season, two in total, a distinction he shares with Wolverhampton Wanderers' Emmanuel Agbadou.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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