Fulham 1-0 Hull City: Alex Iwobi strike gives Alvaro Arbeloa first Premier League win

Fulham end winless run with narrow victory over Hull

Under-pressure head coach Alvaro Arbeloa earned his first Premier League win as Fulham manager as Alex Iwobi’s first-half strike sealed a 1-0 victory over Hull City at Craven Cottage on Saturday 17 October 2026.

With pre-match talk focusing on Arbeloa’s position after a difficult start to the season, the Spaniard got the response he needed. Iwobi finished a sweeping move in the 34th minute, his effort trickling through Hull goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis’s arms.

Fulham dominated the first half, registering 10 shots, and continued to create chances after the break. Josh King was denied one-on-one before Tzolakis produced another important save to keep out Iwobi.

"Under-pressure Alvaro Arbeloa earned the first Premier League win of his managerial career as Fulham beat Hull City 1-0 at Craven Cottage to climb out of the relegation zone," Sky Sports reported.

Missed chances and late drama

Fulham should have extended their lead. Iwobi curled narrowly wide before his excellent cross found Gonzalo Garcia, whose header struck the crossbar in the 74th minute.

Hull struggled to impose themselves for much of the contest. The tension built in stoppage time when Mohamed Belloumi lined up a free-kick, but the Hull winger blazed over, the closest the visitors came to scoring in the second half.

The closing stages brought late drama when Ryan Sessegnon was sent off in stoppage time for a late challenge on Robinio Vaz, catching the Hull substitute around the heel and Achilles area. Fulham were reduced to 10 men for the final moments but held on to secure a crucial victory and a first win of the season, releasing the burden of being the Premier League’s basement club.

After such a dominant performance against a team so blunt going forward, it almost felt inevitable that Álvaro Arbeloa was going to be denied his first Premier League win as Fulham head coach in similar fashion as the weeks and games before, The Guardian noted.