There is a certain irony that Fulham spent January searching the transfer market for a goal scorer, only to find they had one sitting at home the entire time.

Rodrigo Muniz’s scoring run started two days after the window shut, away at Burnley, and continued emphatically here. His industry created Harry Wilson’s opener. His instinct got the second, as he nodded in Wilson’s whipped delivery.

That’s five goals in five now for the Brazilian, a remarkable run considering he hadn’t scored all season before February.

For Marco Silva’s Fulham side, this victory represents some dearly-needed consistency, backing up their away win over Manchester United last week to ensure they recorded back-to-back wins for only the second time this season.

With Brighton travelling to Rome on Thursday for the first European knockout tie in their history, perhaps Roberto De Zerbi could be forgiven for keeping half an eye on the trip to his homeland. He rang the changes here, with only two survivors from the midweek defeat by Wolves. The league’s top assist maker, Pascal Gross, was surprisingly left on the bench.

Fulham winger Harry Wilson opened the scoring against Brighton in the 21st minute

Fulham winger Harry Wilson opened the scoring against Brighton in the 21st minute

Wilson cut in from the right and curled a left-footed strike into the corner of the net

Wilson cut in from the right and curled a left-footed strike into the corner of the net

Still, the Italian will view this as a chance to move within a point of sixth-placed Manchester United wasted, with the defensive frailties of an experienced back line a particular concern.

Brighton settled into a familiar pattern, with plenty of possession but little penetration as Fulham looked to break quickly when given the chance.

Muniz was making a menace of himself at every long ball, and it paid off just after the 20-minute mark when Fulham lumped it forward and Muniz had the beating of Adam Webster in the air. As the ball ran loose he nipped in ahead before Estupinan to play in Wilson.

The defending was sloppy, the finish was anything but. Wilson cut inside and bent a left-footed effort well past Jason Steele.

Adam Lallana and Julio Enciso went close with long-range efforts that both fizzed just over the bar, but Brighton’s early control of proceedings was slipping and Muniz and Wilson soon combined again to double the lead.

Rodrigo Muniz doubled Fulham's advantage with a bullet header in the 32nd minute

Rodrigo Muniz doubled Fulham’s advantage with a bullet header in the 32nd minute

Wilson's cross was headed home by Muniz as the forward bagged his fifth goal in six games

Wilson’s cross was headed home by Muniz as the forward bagged his fifth goal in six games 

Pereira started the move, driving through the middle and playing to Harrison Reed, who found Wilson on the right. Wilson’s cross was inch-perfect, whipped onto the head of Muniz, who was never likely to miss during this rich vein of form.

Wilson was being given plenty of space down the right-hand side and twice had the chance to put Brighton out of sight just after the break, first with an effort slid just wide and then with a blocked effort at the near post after more fine work from Muniz.

Brighton were all at sea at the back and were carved open again as Andreas Pereira broke the high line but dithered when one-on-one with Steele

While De Zerbi’s starting XI may look very different in Rome on Thursday, it will concern him that the back three of Webster, Lewis Dunk and Joel Veltman, three stalwarts of the last campaign, struggled so much here. Dunk was withdrawn before the hour and on came Gross, with a salvation job on his hands.

However, they almost grabbed a lifeline as Adam Lallana played Evan Ferguson through but his dinked effort rolled inches wide. The Irishman hasn’t scored since November, and his frustration was evident as he hunched over, hands on his knees.

Another chance arrived for Ferguson five minutes later and another chance was wasted as he found space in the box but his shot flew straight at Leno. Gross’s introduction had at least injected some impetus into Brighton’s play as they searched for a way back into the game.

Adama Traore finished off a swift counter attack to score his first goal for Fulham

Adama Traore finished off a swift counter attack to score his first goal for Fulham

Substitute Facundo Buonanotte came closest to scoring with 12 minutes to go, with an effort struck against the bottom of Leno’s post. Brighton left spaces at the back, and were punished again in stoppage time as Adama Traore, with fresh legs, broke free and put the exclamation mark on a convincing result.

Muniz was withdrawn with seven minutes to go to a standing ovation from Craven Cottage. His replacement was Armando Broja, the man Fulham signed on deadline day to solve the problem of getting the ball into the net. Instead, it is Muniz providing those answers and Broja may be limited to substitute appearances for the foreseeable future.

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Post source: Daily mail

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