Slavisa’s big buys start the payback
AT THE third time of asking Fulham turned the millions they spent in the summer into Premier League points.
And fittingly, it was three of their most eye-catching arrivals who gave them lift-off.
Jean Michael Seri, with the goal of the season so far, two-goal Aleksandar Mitrovic and Andre Schurrle fired them to their first win of the season.
It was proof that you get what you pay for.
Mitrovic bullied Burnley’s defenders into submission and his manager Slavisa Jokanovic said: “He played very well, scored two, helped us in defence and attack.
“His attitude is fantastic, he’s a quality player and a young man, still only 23, with huge room for improvement.”
The Clarets played their part in this thriller, but worryingly for their manager Sean Dyche it was mainly because of how many times their defence parted.
Fulham’s flying start was the last thing weary Burnley players who featured in Greece last Thursday would have wanted. The hosts were rewarded when Seri hit a fourth-minute, 30-yard wonder strike into the top corner, BIG HIT: Schurrle opens his account in style
FULHAM BURNLEY
capping a superb six-man move.
Fulham’s other signing from Nice, Maxime Le Marchand, was not making as positive an impression and his poor pass was intercepted before Aaron Lennon raced clear to tee up Jeff Hendrick to level.
Tom Cairney’s cross from Seri’s short corner caught out Joe Hart and Mitrovic headed in. Two minutes later Mitrovic’s movement was too much for Stephen Ward and he headed in Luciano Vietto’s cross to make it 3-1 only for James Tarkowski to pull one back three minutes later.
It was a huge ask to expect the entertainment to continue after the break but Fulham tried their best as a Schurrle curler hit the bar and it was the German who sealed the win late-on.
FULHAM (4-3-3):