Wilson, Pereira goals give Fulham win over struggling Leeds

Updated: Oct 12, 2023, 10:19 am
Andreas Pereira celebrates his goal for Fulham against Leeds.
Clive Rose/Getty Images

Goals from Harry Wilson and Andreas Pereira handed Fulham a 2-1 victory over Leeds United at Craven Cottage on Saturday, denting the visitors' Premier League survival hopes and cementing the west London side's position in the top half of the table.

Chances were few and far between in a quiet first half, with Leeds' Marc Roca forcing goalkeeper Bernd Leno into a good save from a free kick. Fulham's best opportunities fell to Pereira from long range.

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Fulham took the lead in the 58th minute with a powerful finish from  Wilson after Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier parried a Willian cross into Wilson's path.

"It fell lovely for me, it was a good team move and it came back off the keeper and it just sat up nicely and I could get a nice connection on it," Wilson told BT Sport.

Fulham continued to apply the pressure and almost doubled their lead when a Pereira free kick rattled the crossbar.

And the hosts' second came in similar fashion. Meslier could only divert a cross from left back Antonee Robinson into Pereira's path and the midfielder lashed the ball into the unguarded net.

Leeds made a raft of substitutions to try and salvage something from the game and it was one of those changes that helped create their consolation goal.

That came in the 79th when substitute Patrick Bamford turned the ball forward after a ricochet in the area before Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha put it into his own net.

Eight minutes of added time gave Leeds hope of finding an equaliser and even keeper Meslier went forward for a corner as they tried to rescue a point but Fulham held on.

"With our quality and our fast attacks we did well with the two goals," said Fulham manager Marco Silva. "There were chances to score even more. The own goal gave that belief to them, but well played to the lads they did well."

Fulham move to ninth on 45 points, while Leeds stay in 16th with 29, two points above the relegation zone.