MITROVIC IS ON A ROLL
Hat-trick hero eyes record run
ALEKSANDAR MITROVIC believes he is in the form of his life – which means records are set to be broken at Fulham.
The Serbia striker’s second hattrick of the season saw off fellow promotion challengers West Brom in style – with a bit of help from helpless referee Michael Salisbury – and kept Fulham five points behind leaders Bournemouth.
Mitrovic has always been a prolific scorer at this level – his best was 26 goals when the Cottagers were last promoted in 2019-20.
But the 27-year-old has 18 from 15 games this season and that record looks vulnerable.
He said: “I’m in the best form I have been in my life. I feel confident with this team. I know I have a lot of quality around me.
“I know the manager trusts in my ability. We play good football, we have a good team, so why not be confident? We show every game that we grow as a team.”
Whether Mitrovic can he do it at Premier League level – where his best tally is 11 in a season – will not worry Fulham manager Marco Silva right now.
But Mitrovic did have a massive helping hand from Salisbury, who awarded the Fulham marksman a soft penalty that set him on his way. Kyle Bartley was harshly judged to have brought down Mitrovic and the Serb converted.
But Albion then shot themselves in the foot on half-time, when Robert Snodgrass dallied, was robbed by Jean Michael Seri and Mitrovic tucked in the loose ball.
Jake Livermore fired over when he should have done better for Albion but they were then further hampered when Salisbury sent off Darnell Furlong for a tackle on Harry Wilson, when the defender looked to have got the ball.
Ten minutes later, Wilson dribbled to the by-line and pulled the ball back for Mitrovic to blast home his hat-trick goal.
Salisbury even then had time to show a red card to Fulham’s Tosin Adarabioyo for a rash lunge on Grady Diangana. In all, there were three yellows and two reds in a game that was never overly physical.
Baggies boss Valerian Ismael said: “I would like to say that Fulham were the best team but I don’t think that was the case. It was our mistakes that put us in
difficult situations.”