Iwobi and Bassey Eye Historic Fulham Win Over Man United

Fulham duo Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey are targeting their first victory over Manchester United at Craven Cottage since 2009 when the two sides clash this weekend.

The Super Eagles stars featured last weekend as Fulham held Brighton to a 1-1 draw, courtesy of Rodrigo Muniz’s dramatic 97th-minute equaliser. Meanwhile, United began their campaign with a narrow 1-0 home defeat to Arsenal at Old Trafford.

Iwobi and Bassey have quickly established themselves as vital players for Marco Silva’s team and are widely expected to feature in the starting XI against the Red Devils. However, Fulham face a daunting challenge: United have won their last eight Premier League visits to Craven Cottage.

Recent statistics underline the visitors’ dominance. United have triumphed in three of their past four league meetings with the Cottagers, keeping three clean sheets in that spell. Both teams, though, are yet to record a victory this season.

Predicted lineups suggest Fulham will line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Iwobi in an advanced midfield role and Bassey in defence, while United are expected to set up in a 3-4-2-1 system led by Rasmus Højlund’s replacement, Benjamin Šeško.

The Cottagers will hope to defy history as they welcome their old rivals in front of a lively Craven Cottage crowd.

Editorial

We believe this fixture is more than a test of form; it is a battle with history. For sixteen years Fulham have failed to overcome Manchester United at home, and that weight sits heavily on the shoulders of the players. Yet with Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey firmly embedded in the team, this season offers a chance to change the narrative.

We see Iwobi’s creativity as pivotal. His ability to link midfield with attack often determines how fluid Fulham look in the final third. In Bassey, there is steel and composure, attributes essential against United’s fast-breaking forwards. When these two Nigerians are at their best, Fulham have resilience and flair in equal measure.

We must acknowledge United’s dominance, but dominance does not last forever. A Craven Cottage win could inject belief into the Cottagers’ season and remind their supporters that tradition can be overturned by determination.

We insist that Fulham must play without fear. The crowd will demand intensity, and the players must rise to that challenge. Breaking a sixteen-year cycle would not only mark a memorable victory but also signal Fulham’s ambition to be more than a mid-table side.

We look forward to seeing Iwobi and Bassey at the heart of this attempt. Their presence symbolises not just hope for Fulham, but also pride for Nigerian fans watching across the globe. This is the moment to grasp history and bend it in a new direction.

Did You Know?

1. Fulham’s last home victory over Manchester United came in March 2009, when goals from Danny Murphy and Zoltán Gera sealed a famous 2-0 win.
2. Craven Cottage, Fulham’s historic ground, is the oldest football stadium in London still hosting professional football.
3. Alex Iwobi is the nephew of Nigerian football legend Jay-Jay Okocha.
4. Calvin Bassey represented Italy at youth level before switching allegiance to Nigeria.
5. Manchester United’s longest unbeaten away run against a single Premier League club is 17 games against Aston Villa.