MX23RW : Sunday, September 29 08:34:14| >> :600:181063:181063:
[monks data]
Attendance: 13,087
Blackburn logo
Championship | Gameweek 31
Feb 8, 2020 at 3pm UK
 
Fulham logo

0-1

FT(HT: 0-0)
Mitrovic (65')

Mitrovic secures victory for Fulham at Blackburn

The Serbian striker netted for the 20th time this season.

Aleksandar Mitrovic's 20th goal of the season was enough to give Fulham a 1-0 win at Blackburn.

The Serbian's powerful turn and shot midway through the second half broke the stubborn resistance of the hosts, whose 10-match unbeaten run at home – stretching more than four months – was ended.

In truth, Scott Parker's side controlled the majority of the game without creating a raft of clear-cut chances, save for a frantic last 15 minutes when Blackburn had four strikers on the pitch.

But, marshalled by the outstanding Michael Hector, the Cottagers made it four wins in five and a fourth clean sheet in that time.

It was their first league double over Rovers since 2001 – when they won promotion to the Premier League for the first time.

Blackburn remain six points off the top six after suffering only their third defeat at Ewood Park this season.

Both sides made one change apiece; Lewis Holtby has been ruled out for the season so Bradley Johnson replaced him, while Tim Ream returned from suspension for the visitors.

The Cottagers looked more menacing in possession early on, but Rovers fashioned the first chance when Sam Gallagher headed over Ryan Nyambe's whipped cross.

But at the other end, Christian Walton had to parry Hector's near-post header around the upright.

Walton produced an even better stop in the 19th minute, showing superb reactions to tip the ball over after a Bobby Decordova-Reid cross ricocheted off Nyambe and seemed destined for the top corner.

The Blackburn stopper was once more called into action in an uneventful first half and again it was his own player as Johnson headed Joe Bryan's cross perilously close to the goal, only for Walton to push behind.

Fulham continued to monopolise possession at the start of the second half and former Blackburn midfielder Tom Cairney fired a low drive towards the near post that Walton parried to safety.

But the Cottagers finally broke Blackburn's resistance in the 65th minute when a slick move saw the ball reach Bryan in the area.

He fed Mitrovic with his back to goal but the Championship's joint leading marksman swivelled and buried his effort past Walton.

Tony Mowbray went for broke with four strikers on the pitch and it almost paid dividends 15 minutes from time when the ball fell to Gallagher in the area but Marek Rodak – called into action for the first time – displayed stunning reflexes to get down low and palm the shot away.

Stefan Johansen should have killed the game in the final minute and although Walton made an outstanding one-on-one save, Fulham took the points.

ID:389134: cacheID:389134:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:5262:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Fulham boss Scott Parker on February 1, 2020
Read Next:
Scott Parker unhappy with Fulham's failure to put Huddersfield "to the sword"
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
6pm
Rams
@
Bears
6pm
Eagles
@
Buccaneers
6pm
Steelers
@
Colts
6pm
Saints
@
Falcons
6pm
Broncos
@
Jets
6pm
Vikings
@
Packers
6pm
Bengals
@
Panthers
6pm
Jags
@
Texans
9.05pm
Patriots
@
49ers
9.05pm
Washington
@
Cardinals
9.25pm
Chiefs
@
Chargers
9.25pm
Browns
@
Raiders
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom7511125716
2Sunderland7502146815
3Blackburn RoversBlackburn7430146815
4Burnley7421134914
5Leeds UnitedLeeds7421124814
6Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd743093613
7Watford74121210213
8Middlesbrough732285311
9Norwich CityNorwich7322119211
10Swansea CitySwansea631274310
11Oxford UnitedOxford Utd7313108210
12Hull City72329819
13Derby CountyDerby7304101009
14Millwall7223121028
15Plymouth ArgylePlymouth7223811-38
16Bristol City6222812-48
17Queens Park RangersQPR7142811-37
18Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds7214914-57
19Luton TownLuton7214611-57
20Stoke CityStoke7205411-76
21Coventry CityCoventry7124611-55
22Preston North EndPreston7124412-85
23Portsmouth7043713-64
24Cardiff CityCardiff7016217-151


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!