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Fulham moved to the top of the Championship with a dominant 4-1 win against a lacklustre Barnsley at Craven Cottage.
The first effort of the match came from Barnsley’s Romal Palmer, forcing Fulham goalkeeper Marek Rodak into an acrobatic diving save to his left.
Michael Hector then hit the post mid-way through the first-half before Aleksander Mitrovic opened the scoring with his 21st of the season a few minutes later with a towering header from a Kenny Tete cross.
Fabio Carvalho doubled Fulham’s advantage in the 34th minute, crowning his return to the starting line-up with a crisp right-footed effort on the edge of the Barnsley box.
Three minutes into the second-half Tom Cairney hit the bar after some sumptuous build-up play, but mounting pressure finally resulted in Neeskens Kebano’s well-timed volley from a Harry Wilson cross taking the game beyond Barnsley with Fulham’s third.
Substitute Victor Adeboyejo scored a Barnsley consolation with just over ten minutes left, before Wilson rounded off an impressive Fulham performance with a cool finish on his left-foot after drifting onto a handsome Jean Michael Seri pass.
Key Points
Check out all the key talking points and reaction from London Football Scene below…
Key Moment
Aleksander Mitrovic’s header in the 24th minute was exactly what Fulham needed to kick on and dictate the play for the rest of the encounter.
Moan of the Match
The lack of a clean sheet is the only thing Fulham boss Marco Silva can be left frustrated with in what was overall an impressive display.
Talking Point
How long can Mitrovic keep this scoring run going? It’s now 21 in the Championship so far this season and it’s not even Christmas!
Man of the Match
Neeskens Kebano – bamboozled defenders throughout with his fascinating dribbling style and capped a fine performance with a superb volley.
Tweet of the Match
Referee Watch
Josh Smith (Bedfordshire) – allowed the game to ebb and flow in the first-half before annoying the Fulham faithful with some of his decision-making in the second period.
Atmosphere
The Barnsley fans made a lot of noise at the top of the away end in the opening twenty minutes, but were drowned out after Mitrovic’s header rippled the net in front of them.
Verdict
Another three points in a comfortable home win sends Fulham to the top of the Championship – Marco Silva’s team looks like a well-oiled and unstoppable machine right now.
