Aleksandar Mitrovic has 30 of Fulham’s 77 Championship goals this season
Star striker Aleksandar Mitrovic scored twice to take his tally to 30 Championship goals for the season as leaders Fulham comfortably beat Millwall.
Victory saw Fulham open an eight-point gap with a game in hand over second-placed Blackburn as the in-form Serbian went level with Ivan Toney and Glenn Murray for the most goals in a Championship campaign.
Substitute Bobby Decordova-Reid added a late third as the Cottagers moved one step closer to automatic promotion back to the Premier League.
It was a fourth defeat in six matches for Millwall, who are eight points off the play-off places.
Both sides capitalised on early mistakes without carving out clear-cut chances, before Fulham settled into the game and started to dictate the tempo.
New signing Neco Williams looked dangerous every time he had the ball on the right-hand side, narrowly missing with a 25-yard effort before cutting back for Mitrovic to open the scoring on 29 minutes.
Millwall goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski then got down well to keep out Fabio Carvalho’s low left-footed effort, as Fulham took a 1-0 lead into the break.
The home side came out with intent and doubled their lead within five minutes as Mitrovic lashed home his second goal of the game and 33rd of the season for club and country.
Tim Ream’s blocked shot fell to Carvalho, whose effort was well saved by Bialkowski. But the ball dropped nicely for Mitrovic to drill the ball home.
Moments later the striker almost had his fourth hat-trick of the season, when he made room to shoot from the edge of the area, but his powerful right-footed effort went just over.
Mason Bennett looked to be Millwall’s most likely route back into the game, twice blazing over with his left foot before dragging a third effort wide with his right foot.
Harry Wilson then broke free down the right with two minutes of normal time left and pulled back for Carvalho.
The teenager’s effort fell to Decordova-Reid to seal the win for Fulham.
The game also saw a minute’s applause held for Fulham fan Paul Parish, who died after falling ill at the Cottagers’ home match against Blackpool on 29 January.
Boss Marco Silva and his players then embraced Mr Parish’s family at the Hammersmith End at full-time, in a touching tribute.
- Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text
Line-upsFulham
Formation 4-1-4-1
1Rodák20N Williams16Tosin13Ream33Robinson12Chalobah8Wilson10Cairney28Carvalho7Kebano9Mitrovic
- 1Rodák20N Williams16Tosin13Ream33Robinson12Chalobah8Wilson10CairneySubstituted forReedat 71’minutes28Carvalho7KebanoSubstituted forDe Cordova-Reidat 77’minutes9MitrovicBooked at 84minsSubstituted forMuniz Carvalhoat 90+1’minutes
Substitutes
- 3Hector6Reed14De Cordova-Reid17Cavaleiro19Muniz Carvalho21Gazzaniga24Seri
Millwall
Formation 3-4-1-2
33Bialkowski4Hutchinson15Pearce5Cooper2McNamara6Kieftenbeld24Mitchell3M Wallace20Bennett10Burke23Afobe
- 33Bialkowski4HutchinsonBooked at 61mins15PearceSubstituted forJ Wallaceat 57’minutes5Cooper2McNamara6KieftenbeldBooked at 35mins24Mitchell3M Wallace20BennettBooked at 74minsSubstituted forBureyat 77’minutes10BurkeSubstituted forFreemanat 77’minutes23Afobe
Substitutes
- 1Long7J Wallace16Freeman17Saville21Mahoney28Evans32Burey
Referee:Matt DonohueAttendance:16,606Match StatsHome TeamFulhamAway TeamMillwallPossessionHome57%Away43%ShotsHome20Away8Shots on TargetHome6Away2CornersHome6Away4FoulsHome12Away14Live TextPost update
Match ends, Fulham 3, Millwall 0.
90’+5’Full Time
Second Half ends, Fulham 3, Millwall 0.
90’+4’Post update
Rodrigo Muniz (Fulham) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90’+4’Post update
Foul by Jed Wallace (Millwall).
90’+2’Post update
Attempt missed. Neco Williams (Fulham) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Harrison Reed.
90’+1’Substitution
Substitution, Fulham. Rodrigo Muniz replaces Aleksandar Mitrovic.
90’+1’Post update
Attempt missed. Harry Wilson (Fulham) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Fabio Carvalho.
87’goalGoal!
Goal! Fulham 3, Millwall 0. Bobby De Cordova-Reid (Fulham) left footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Fabio Carvalho.
87’Post update
Attempt missed. Fabio Carvalho (Fulham) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Harry Wilson.
85’Post update
Foul by Harry Wilson (Fulham).
85’Post update
Billy Mitchell (Millwall) wins a free kick on the left wing.
85’Post update
Foul by Neco Williams (Fulham).
85’Post update
Tyler Burey (Millwall) wins a free kick on the left wing.
84’Booking
Aleksandar Mitrovic (Fulham) is shown the yellow card.
84’Post update
Foul by Aleksandar Mitrovic (Fulham).
84’Post update
Shaun Hutchinson (Millwall) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
83’Post update
Aleksandar Mitrovic (Fulham) wins a free kick on the right wing.
83’Post update
Foul by Jake Cooper (Millwall).
80’Post update
Corner, Millwall. Conceded by Marek Rodák.
80’Post update
Attempt saved. Benik Afobe (Millwall) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Jake Cooper with a headed pass.
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Source: bbc.com
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