Pundit Garth Crooks has praised Fulham defender Calvin Bassey after his ‘excellent’ performance against Manchester United.
Wee are three days removed from Fulham’s superb win at Manchester United but the delight hasn’t quite subsided yet.
Alex Iwobi’s last -minute winner at Old Trafford is one which will live long in the memory with Fulham securing a first win at United’s famous home for more than 20 years.
Iwobi has received plenty of plaudits and deservedly so.
The former Arsenal man has endured a tough time of late amid fierce criticism in Nigeria having lost the Africa Cup of Nations final to the Ivory Coast.
Iwobi’s Nigeria teammate Calvin Bassey didn’t receive quite as much abuse online but also came up with a big moment against United.
Calvin Bassey praised
Bassey smashed home the opening goal for Fulham, giving Andre Onana no chance with a powerful finish from inside the box.
Bassey also racked up four clearances, two headers won and one successful tackle in a strong performance.
The centre back joined Fulham for £19.3million last summer, leaving Ajax after just one year in Amsterdam.
Keen to get back on track after shining at Rangers, Bassey had a difficult start at Fulham with a red card in his first start for the club.
We are now starting to see the best of Bassey though and the partnership with Tosin Adarabioyo looks a promising one.
Pundit Garth Crooks has been impressed, telling BBC Sport that he felt Bassey was ‘excellent’ against United.
Crooks felt that Bassey and Adarabioyo coasted through the game, suggesting that Fulham ‘outfought, outmuscled and outplayed’ United in their own back yard.
“Outfought, outmuscled and outplayed by Fulham in the 2-1 loss at Old Trafford. If Manchester United players lack inspiration why don’t they leave? Or better still Erik ten Hag gets rid of them. If not, as sure as night follows day, Manchester United will get rid of him,” said Crooks.
“With no Rasmus Hojlund in the mix due to injury it needed Marcus Rashford to step up to the challenge but he was nowhere to be seen. Meanwhile, Fulham made six changes to the side that lost to Aston Villa and they still destroyed United, who only seem to turn up when they’re in a crisis or their manager’s position is under threat.”
“This was an impressive team performance by the Cottagers with Bassey and Tosin Adarabioyo back in the starting line-up and could have played this match in stocking feet. Nigeria international Bassey’s goal was a nice finish to an excellent personal performance,” he added.
The problem here is that the Bassey and Adarabioyo partnership may not last too long.
Adarabioyo is out of contract this summer and there has been little indication that he will sign a new deal.
It currently looks like Adarabioyo will leave Fulham on a free transfer this summer and possibly move on to another Premier League club.
That would be a big blow, but hopefully Bassey can kick on and become a real star in the heart of Fulham’s back line for years to come.