'Marked by Iwobi' - Ex-Fulham star stops short of blaming Nigerian midfielder for Everton's second goal

Fulham's struggles on the road continued on Saturday evening at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, where they were beaten 2-0 by David Moyes' Everton, with Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey and Samuel Chukwueze featuring for the visitors.

Despite having three goals ruled out for offside, Everton found their breakthrough through Idrissa Gueye and Michael Keane.

The Toffees opened the scoring in the sixth minute of first-half stoppage time, with Gana converting from close range after James Tarkowski's header struck the post and Tim Iroegbunam missed the rebound.

Nine minutes from time, Everton centre-back Michael Keane capitalised on a set-piece, getting behind his former teammate Iwobi and a Fulham defender to flick Dewsbury-Hall's corner into the net.

Reflecting on the second goal, former Fulham striker Dimitar Berbatov suggested that Iwobi may have been involved in the defensive lapse that led to Keane doubling the advantage but stopped short of blaming him outright.

Speaking on Premier League Productions, as monitored by allnigeriasoccer.com, Berbatov said: "A typical defender's goal from a set piece. When you are big and strong, you can have an advantage even though he is marked by another big player Iwobi.

"Still, in that midst of people where you don't know what's going to happen, where the ball is going to hit you. Obviously, it hit his shoulder, not his hand but still, it's a goal."

Iwobi is one of three Fulham players included in Nigeria's latest squad ahead of the crucial 2026 World Cup qualifying playoff against Gabon on November 13.

This season, the Hale End Academy graduate has started every Premier League game for the Cottagers, scoring once and providing two assists.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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