Owen criticises Bassey for Janelt’s goal against Fulham

Former Liverpool striker Michael Owen has voiced his criticism of Super Eagles defender Calvin Bassey following a pivotal moment in Fulham’s match against Brentford in the Premier League.

During the encounter at Craven Cottage on Sunday, November 4, Bassey made a significant error that directly contributed to Brentford’s opening goal, scored by Vitaly Janelt. This mistake came at a crucial time in the match and put Fulham at a disadvantage early on.

Fortunately for Bassey and Fulham, his teammate Harry Wilson stepped up to turn the tide. Wilson showcased his skills by scoring a late brace, ultimately leading Fulham to a 2-1 victory, thus saving the team from potential defeat.

In a post-match analysis on the Premier League Productions programme, Owen said, “Nobody was closing him [Vitaly Janelt] down, which was a crucial oversight. Bassey arguably initiated the problem with a poor touch that allowed him to gain possession. He found that little bit of space and managed to strike from outside the box, a situation that some managers encourage their players to exploit.”

Note that Calvin Bassey joined Fulham from Ajax on July 28, 2023, for a transfer fee worth €22.50m. Since then, he has played 42 times in all competitions and he has scored a goal for the Cottagers.

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