Match Report
Fulham (5) 6-2 (2) Bristol City
Championship Match Day 25 2021 at Craven Cottage
Saturday 15th January KO: 15:00
Referee:
Tim Robinson (West Sussex)
|
Aleksandar Mitrovic took his Championship goal tally to 27 for the season after hitting a first half hat-trick in Fulham's 6-2 victory over Bristol City at Craven Cottage.
The win, which came on the back of the Cottagers' 7-0 win at Reading in midweek, ensured Marco Silva's side took full advantage of Bournemouth's earlier defeat at Luton to move top of the table.
The outcome was decided in a thrilling first half in which Nigel Pearson's visitors twice took the lead through Antoine Semenyo before reaching the interval trailing by three goals after four Fulham goals in 14 minutes.
Neeskens Kebano and Fabio Carvalho added to Mitrovic's treble with Kebano adding his second after the break to complete the win.
Silva's side have now scored 64 goals in 25 matches - 20 more than any of their rivals.
There were few signs of what was to come when Semenyo capped his side's positive start with opening goal in the seventh minute.
The chance arose after the visitors staged a swift counter-attack with Alex Scott releasing Semenyo to run into the area and drill a rising left foot shot inside the near post.
Fulham were initially slow to respond although there were signs they were finding their feet as Mitrovic and Kebano both directed efforts wide of the target.
And after applying the first real period of sustained pressure on the Robins defence, the home side found themselves level in the 21st minute when Mitrovic rose to direct Wilson's cross beyond keeper Max O'Leary.
O'Leary produced an outstanding acrobatic save to deny Mitrovic as Fulham appeared poised to take control.
But another incisive counter-attack saw the visitors restore their lead in the 29th minute after Semenyo raced clear form the halfway line before producing another excellent finish.
This time Fulham took just two minutes to hit back with Kebano heading in from close range after Mitrovic had nodded down Kenny Tete's cross.
| Match Stats |
Fulham |
Bristol City |
| Goals |
(5) 6 |
2 (2) |
|
| Scorers |
Mitrovic 21 |
Semenyo 7 |
|
Kebano 31 |
Semenyo 29 |
|
Carvalho 36 |
- |
|
Mitrovic 41 |
- |
|
Mitrovic 46 |
- |
|
Kebano 57 |
- |
|
| Goal attempts |
18 |
8 |
| On target |
8 |
5 |
| Shooting Accuracy |
44% |
63% |
| Possession |
62% |
38% |
| Passes |
560 |
336 |
| Passes Success |
80% |
71% |
| Crosses |
23 |
11 |
| Crosses Success |
35% |
9% |
| Corners |
6 |
4 |
| Tackles |
7 |
14 |
| Tackles Success |
57% |
50% |
| Saves |
3 |
2 |
| Fouls |
8 |
8 |
| Offsides |
1 |
7 |
| Yellows |
0 |
2 |
| Reds |
0 |
0 |
| source: SkySports |
And Carvalho put Fulham ahead in the 36th minute with a superb solo effort. The 19-year-old collected the ball 35 yards from goal and ran to the edge of the penalty area before placing a side-foot shot beyond O'Leary's dive.
Mitrovic added the fourth in the 41st minute with another header when he rose to meet Tom Cairney's corner.
And the Serb completed his hat-trick in first half added time with a curling shot into the top corner after collecting a pass from Tom Cairney.
Nigel Pearson's City side were relieved to reach the interval but there was no respite after the restart.
Fulham continued to dominate and they extended their lead in the 58th minute when Kebano added his second with a shot on the turn after Tosin Adarabioyo headed a corner towards the far post.
Fulham head coach Marco Silva:
"The way he (Mitrovic) scored the two headers and, after that, great finishing for the hat-trick was very, very good - his skills, his quality there, what he's capable to do in the box.
"My players know they will not score always six or seven goals. If someone expects this type of score it will be a big mistake. Of course no one inside this football club is thinking this way.
"Of course if you ask me if I'm happy with the score, it is the way you like to do it. But if in the next game we win 1-0 I will be happy."
Bristol City boss Nigel Pearson:
"We were bullied at times and it was quite evident there was a difference in quality. We conceded four goals from set plays without really laying a glove on them.
"We surrendered too easily and at times we forced the play when it wasn't on and didn't force it when we could have done.
"Mitrovic is an excellent player and it would not be fair to not recognise his qualities. But we needed to be more physical with him."
Fulham: Rodak, Tete, Ream, Adarabioyo, Robinson, Reed, Cairney (Chalobah 72), Wilson, Carvalho, Kebano (De Cordova-Reid 71), Mitrovic (Muniz 78)
Unused substitutes: Odoi, Hector, Gazzaniga, Stansfield
Goals:
Mitrovic 21 (header from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Harry Wilson with a cross.)
Kebano 31(header from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Aleksandar Mitrovic.)
Carvalho 36(right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Tim Ream.)
Mitrovic 41(header from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Tom Cairney with a cross following a corner.)
Mitrovic 46(left footed shot from the centre of the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Tom Cairney.)
Kebano 57(right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right to the top left corner. Assisted by Tosin Adarabioyo with a headed pass following a set piece situation.)
Bristol City: O'Leary, Pring, Kalas, Vyner, O'Dowda (Bakinson 76), Massengo (Atkinson 50), King, Dasilva (Martin 50), Semenyo, Scott, Weimann
Unused substitutes: Bentley, Wells, Benarous, Palmer
Goals:
Semenyo 7 ( left footed shot from the left side of the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Alex Scott following a fast break.)
Semenyo 29 (right footed shot from outside the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Andy King following a fast break.)
Booked: Pring (46,f), Scott (68,f)
Referee:
Tim Robinson (West Sussex)
Attendance: 17,810