Tale of two firsts as Johansen strikes in Fulham’s home win
LONDON: Stefan Johansen netted his first goal of the English Championship campaign to land Fulham some home comforts at last in a 2-1 win over Hull.
Slavisa Jokanovic’s men side had not won at Craven Cottage all term and they looked set for more frustration when Jarrod Bowen’s header helped Hull chalk off a first-half Floyd Ayite strike for Fulham. But Norwegian ace Johansen, who hit 13 goals last season, came to the rescue with a delightful finish to bag the points.
Fulham have been easy on the eye in the opening games but also guilty of squandering chances.
The trend looked set to continue here against a Hull side desperate to improve defensively after their 5-0 demolition at Derby on Friday night.
Allan McGregor pulled off a stunning reflex stop to deny Floyd Ayite from eight yards in a rare first-half opportunity.
But just before the break Fulham did manage to breach Leonid Slutsky’s backline when Fikayo Tomori was unable to clear Sheyi Ojo’s cross, allowing Ayite to slot home easily from six yards.
The game burst into life after the interval and Ryan Sessegnon missed a chance to put the game beyond doubt when heading a sitter wide from Ayite’s cross. Fulham paid for the 17-year-old’s wastefulness when Hull’s own whizkid Bowen levelled four minutes later.
After his first header from Kamil Grosicki’s floated cross was repelled by David Button, the 20-year-old was aware enough to nod in his fifth of the season on the rebound.
The visitors almost went in front straight after but Ola Aina’s scruffy goalbound effort was cleared off the line by Ryan Fredericks.
The home fans were becoming frustrated by some of their team’s over-playing.
But all was forgiven when Johansen finished off a stunning move to put them back in front. Ojo fed Fredricks whose delicious cross just missed Ayite’s overhead kick attempt, only for Johansen to control it on his chest around the penalty spot and fire in off the crossbar.
Fulham had their chances to make it more comfortable, with Ayite again denied by a smart McGregor stop at his near post.
While a complete mishit from substitute Yohan Mollo inadvertently played in Tim Ream, the Yank defender could not beat an out-rushing McGregor.
This victory did not mask the fact that Fulham still lack a clinical striker to finish off their sweeping, flowing football.
Slutsky’s side, however, have much defensive work to do if they are to achieve anything this season.
Mollo hit the bar during five minutes of injury time, after Sessegnon had almost headed into his own net when attempting to clear. — The Sun, London