Bassey admits Fulham struggled a bit in first half against Everton

Nigeria defender Calvin Bassey has discussed Fulham’s 2-0 Premier League defeat against Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday.

Senegal star Idrissa Gueye and Michael Keane scored in either half to help the Toffees beat the Cottagers. Fulham improved after half-time but could not find a way past Jordan Pickford before Keane sealed the points late on.

Gueye made the breakthrough in first-half stoppage time before Keane converted a corner to earn David Moyes’ side a first Premier League win in four games and move them into mid-table.

Fulham got to do better at set-pieces

Discussing the defeat, Bassey admitted Fulham lost control in the first half allowing Everton to do the damage.

“We could have been a little bit more dynamic in the first half. We had control then we lost control,” Bassey told Sporty TV as quoted by Complete Sports. “We’ve got to do better at set-pieces. We’ve conceded 16 goals, 10 of them have been from personal errors or set-pieces, and we got to do better.

“This game we knew it was gonna be a fight. Beto, Barry, they’re fighters, they make life difficult for you so we were prepared. I got a little knock but I’m fine.”

With the Premier League taking a break for the FIFA international window, Bassey admitted: “It gives everyone a chance to breathe a bit before we get on and get back in the Premier League.”

The defeat left Fulham 15th on the table with 11 points. So far this season, Bassey has featured in all the Premier League matches but is yet to score nor provide an assist.

Bassey will now shift focus to Nigeria’s World Cup qualifying playoff against Gabon. The two nations will face off in a two-legged final with the first slated for Thursday, November 13 at Moulay Hassan Stadium in Rabat, Morocco.

The final is three days later on Sunday, November 16 at the same venue.