Match Report Fulham (1) 2-0 (0) Blackburn Rovers Championship Match Day 02 1920 at Craven Cottage Saturday 10th August 2019,    KO: 15:00 Referee: Keith Stroud (Hampshire)

Fulham midfielder Tom Cairney

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After suffering a shock opening-day defeat to a newly promoted side, it was imperative for Scott Parker that his Fulham team got their first league win in their clash with Blackburn Rovers at Craven Cottage.

But more than that, he wanted to see “bravery” from the Championship favourites to continue playing out from the back - even when the home fans made their frustrations about Fulham’s new style of play perfectly clear.

Parker, though, was vindicated after Tom Cairney’s superb long-range strike in the 35th minute handed the hosts the lead before Aleksandar Mitrovic’s tap-in with nine minutes remaining secured a 2-0 win.

“I felt there was a little bit of edginess, bit of nerves among us.

But I thought the boys were very brave in the way we started the game,” Parker said.

“With the way I want us to play, that comes with a bit of risk.

Fulham Striker Aleksandar Mitrovic

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Last week I felt, at times, we took the easy option and, for me, as a football team we aren’t going to win matches that way.

“A world-class strike eases [the nerves] and we really had control of the game. We’ve got experience in this team. We’re expecting a big season.”

Despite the uplifting end result, it was not plain sailing for Fulham as Blackburn, who came to Craven Cottage having lost their opening game of the season to newly promoted Charlton, threatened through Bradley Johnson and Bradley Dack’s headers in the first half.

Adam Armstrong then drove just wide of the far post in the 53rd minute, but Blackburn could not muster a shot on target against Fulham, which only served to strengthen Tony Mowbray’s pre-match concerns about his side lacking creativity and flair up front.

Fulham’s success against Blackburn was down, in part, to their improved collective defending since the previous week and, indeed, positive performances from new signings Harry Arter, who set up Cairney’s opener, and wide man Anthony Knockaert.

Match Stats	Fulham	Blackburn
Goals	(1) 2	0 (0)
Scorers	Cairney 35
	Mitrovic 81
,
Goal attempts	13	10
On target	3	0
Shooting Accuracy	23%	0%
Possession	59%	41%
Passes Success	50%	50%
Crosses	8	13
Crosses Success	100%	77%
Corners	5	5
Saves	0	1
Fouls	7	16
Offsides	2	1
Yellows	0	2
Reds	0	0
source: SkySports

The latter, on loan from Brighton, saw a curling second-half effort fly just over the bar, which may have alleviated fans’ fears about Fulham’s attacking threat following the sale of academy starlet Ryan Sessegnon to Tottenham on deadline day.

“We know the quality he [Knockaert] brings - he always gets you off you seat as a fan,” Parker said.

“You always sense something is going to happen. He’s been superb.

I know there’s still plenty more to come from him so that’s pleasing.

“After last week against Barnsley, I felt we came up short in terms of physicality, the basics of the game. We’ve been going on all week about giving yourself a platform, a foundation and that comes from doing the basics well. Last week, we didn’t do the basics well and we never got a foothold into the game because of it.

“We all realise how difficult this league can be.

I’m sure there will be some blips.

But I’d like to think that over the coming weeks, we’ll create a mentality where we can bounce back.”

This is something that will also concern Mowbray, whose Blackburn side sit rock bottom of the Championship after their second straight loss of the season.

“I thought we played really well,” he said. “In the first half, we were the dominant side. We didn’t punish them.”

Fulham: Bettinelli, Odoi, Mawson, Ream, Bryan, Cairney, Arter, Johansen (De Cordova-Reid 62), Knockaert (Le Marchand 84), Mitrovic, Cavaleiro (Reed 79)

Unused substitutes: Rodak, Christie, McDonald, Ayite

Goals:
Cairney 35 (left footed shot from outside the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Harry Arter.)
Mitrovic 81 (right footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Joe Bryan.)

Blackburn Rovers: Walton, Bennett, Tosin Adarabioyo, Williams, Bell (Downing 71), Johnson, Travis (D Graham 74), Rothwell (Brereton 65), Dack, Armstrong, Gallagher

Unused substitutes: Leutwiler, Platt, Corry Evans, Buckley

Booked: Johnson (61,f), Bennett (86,f)

Referee: Keith Stroud (Hampshire)

Attendance: 17,987