Match Report Fulham (0) 2-1 (0) Brighton and Hove Albion Premiership Match Day 05 2223 at Craven Cottage Tuesday 30th August 2022    KO: 19:30 Referee: Thomas Bramall (Sheffield) Live on BT Sport

Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic

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Fulham manager Marco Silva hailed an "unbelievable performance" from Aleksandar Mitrovic after his fifth goal of the season helped Fulham end Brighton's unbeaten start to the campaign with a 2-1 victory at Craven Cottage.

Mitrovic ghosted in at the back post to break the deadlock three minutes into the second half with his 100th league goal for Fulham, and a second swiftly followed for Marco Silva's side when Lewis Dunk put through his own net (55).

Brighton, who could have gone top of the Premier League for the first time with a victory, pulled one back against the run of play on the hour through Alexis Mac Allister's well-taken penalty after VAR penalised Bobby De Cordova-Reid for a foul on Pervis Estupinan.

But, despite a late, substitute-inspired rally, Brighton's comeback failed to materialise as Fulham saw out a deserved victory which lifted them into the top six on eight points, two behind Brighton, who remain in fourth.

Brighton started the night knowing a victory would take them top of the English top flight for the first time but were prevented from scaling those heights by the side who finished top of last season's Championship.

Match Stats	Fulham	Brighton
Goals	(0) 2	01(0)
Scorers	Mitrovic 48	Mac Allister pen 60
	Dunk og 55	-
Goal attempts	10	7
On target	3	4
Shooting Accuracy	30%	57%
Possession	40%	60%
Passes	345	525
Passes Success	75%	83%
Crosses	8	17
Crosses Success	25%	18%
Corners	3	3
Tackles	26	22
Tackles Success	58%	41%
Saves	2	2
Fouls	9	11
Offsides	0	2
Yellows	2	1
Reds	0	0
source: SkySports

Fulham's fluid attack, spearheaded by impressive performances from Mitrovic, Neeskens Kebano and Andreas Pereira, didn't give Brighton a moment's rest, and the hosts nearly made a deserved eighth-minute breakthrough when Joao Palhinha's flick from a corner forced Robert Sanchez into action.

Brighton boss Graham Potter was forced to switch to a back three in a bid to wrestle back the initiative from Fulham, but the hosts remained a threat, with Mitrovic capitalising on poor defending from Adam Webster and Joel Veltman before scuffing a shot into the gloves of Sanchez.

The tactical change from Potter took time to bear fruit, Pascal Gross' deflected 29th-minute shot was the visitors' first on target, but Brighton gradually dampened the Fulham fire, and they should have taken the lead when Solly March headed the best chance of the first period wide seven minutes before the break.

Fulham got the start they were craving in the first half at the beginning of the second, with Mitrovic arriving late at the back post to turn home Kebano's cross. And the second came seven minutes later when Dunk turned the ball into the Brighton net while desperately trying to cut out Pereira's cross.

Fulham manager Marco Silva: "Mitrovic has been unbelievable. Not just because of the goals he scores. We are seeing a lot more things from him than goals. He is not just a goalscorer for us. This evening he was unbelievable. He helped the right-back, he helped the left-back. He is showing a great, great spirit.

"Of course, when we have the ball, we have to deliver for him and get the best from him. We know where he is really strong and where he is difficult to control and we have to keep creating for him because I am sure he will keep scoring. The other part he is improving is in our defensive process. He deserves all the praise."

Brighton manager Graham Potter: "We were below par, Fulham played well and deserved to win. We weren't quite as good as we can be, and when you play like that in the Premier League it can be tough.

"Fulham started better than us in the first half. We grew into the game, we knew we could play better, but credit to the opponent. We got off to a bad start in the second half, Fulham deserved the win and weren't as good as we can be."

Man of the Match - Aleksandar Mitrovic
Aleksandar Mitrovic has scored more Premier League goals versus Brighton than he has against any other side (4). In fact, his opener tonight was the 100th league goal of his Fulham career.

Fulham: Leno, Tete, Adarabioyo, Ream, Robinson, Reed (Chalobah 92), Palhinha, Kebano, Pereira (Cairney 78), De Cordova-Reid, Mitrovic

Unused substitutes: Ablade, Francois, Stansfield, Harris, Mbabu, Rodák, Diop

Goals:
Mitrovic 48 (Mitro's on fire! Fulham take a corner short and look like they've wasted it when Pereira's cross is headed away, but the hosts hook it back into the Brighton box and Kebano meets it with a low cross-shot which Mitrovic slides home at the far post! His fifth goal of the season and his 100th league goal for Fulham overall! Assist: Kebano)
Dunk og 55(A nightmare for Dunk! Fulham spring forward on the counter-attack as Mitrovic nicks the ball off Estupinan following a Brighton corner and suddenly they are away. Kebano feeds Pereira to his left and the Brazilian attempts to pick out De Cordova-Reid with a low cross but Dunk diverts it into his own net. It's a horrible own goal from the Brighton centre-back! Assist: Pereira)

Booked: Robinson (68,f), Reed (83,f)

Brighton and Hove Albion : Sanchez, Webster, Veltman (Lamptey 64), Dunk, Caicedo (Undav 79), Estupinan (Mitoma 63), March, Mwepu (Welbeck 63), Mac Allister, Trossard, Gross

Unused substitutes: van Hecke, Alzate, Enciso, Colwill, Steele

Goals:
Mac Allister pen 60 (PENALTY! Referee Thomas Bramall points to the spot after going over to check the pitchside monitor! It was clumsy from De Cordova-Reid! Mac Allister to take. Mac Allister, who has already scored once from the spot this season, sends it high to Leno's right. The Fulham goalkeeper guesses correctly but he can't reach it.)

Booked: Estupinan (55,f),

Referee: Thomas Bramall (Sheffield)

Attendance: 22,224