“I proved them wrong” — Calvin Bassey reflects on first Premier League goal

By Monsurah Olatunji

Nigeria international Calvin Bassey has expressed his pride after scoring his first Premier League goal of the season for Fulham in their 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest.

The 25-year-old defender netted a crucial header that not only secured three points for the Cottagers but also helped silence his teammates’ playful teasing.

Having started all but one of Fulham’s Premier League games this season, Bassey was delighted to open his goal account against a Nottingham Forest side led by his fellow Nigerian, Ola Aina.

After the match, the former Ajax defender praised his team’s overall performance, emphasizing their defensive strategy, which was key to handling Forest’s dangerous counter-attacks.

“The boys give me a bit of stick sometimes! But today I proved them wrong,” Bassey said, reflecting on his goal in an interview with the club’s website.

“For me, it’s a proud moment—my first goal this season, but for the team, I think we deserved it. We created a lot of chances, and I think we deserved the win. We tried to control the game.”

Bassey also reinforced the importance of defense in Fulham’s victory.

“We knew they’re very dangerous on the counter, so defense was very important for us, making sure we don’t open ourselves,” he said.

“We tried to be narrow, but with their goal, we weren’t narrow enough and Chris Wood, he’s on fire, and he’s just able to slot it home.”

Looking ahead, Bassey shared the team’s ambitions for a spot in European competition.

“Everyone always asks me about this European thing. Of course, our goal is to get there, but we’ve been a bit unlucky earlier in the season. Now, I think we’re getting our luck back through hard work.”

With Fulham sitting 8th on the Premier League table, four points behind Manchester City in 4th, the team is still in the hunt for a UEFA Champions League spot.