Former Chelsea striker Chris Sutton has slammed Manchester City captain Bernardo Silva for the costly mistake that led to Samuel Chukwueze’s first-ever Premier League goal during Fulham’s clash with the champions at Craven Cottage on Tuesday night.
The goal turned out to be a major talking point from the match, with analysts pointing to it as a moment that shifted momentum and exposed City’s rare defensive lapse in an otherwise tightly contested encounter.
City were under sustained pressure when Timothy Castagne’s delivery into the box was poorly cleared by Silva, allowing the ball to drop perfectly for Chukwueze, who showed great composure before firing into the bottom corner in the 72nd minute to send the home fans into celebration.
Sutton: Silva’s error gifted the goal
Speaking on Sky Sports and quoted by the BBC, Sutton said the opportunity only existed because of the City midfielder’s lapse in judgment, insisting the goal could have been easily avoided with a cleaner clearance.
“Fulham have been passing with real purpose in this second half,” Sutton said. “It’s careless from Bernardo Silva. The ball just sits up, it’s waiting to be hit – and boy, does Samuel Chukwueze hit it!”
Sutton added that experienced players are expected to make better decisions in such moments, especially in tight matches where small mistakes can make a big difference between winning and dropping points.
Chukwueze in strong form ahead of AFCON
The Nigerian forward has rediscovered his spark at Fulham, emerging as one of the club’s most dangerous attackers in recent weeks and earning praise for his sharp movement and clinical finishing.
He has now recorded four goal involvements in his last three Premier League outings, underlining his growing importance to the team as they push for a strong league finish.
His recent form could not have come at a better time, as he has also been named in Eric Chelle’s 54-man provisional list for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, which begins December 21 in Morocco.
With confidence clearly on the rise, fans will be hoping Chukwueze can carry this impressive momentum into international duty and make a strong impact for Nigeria on the continental stage.