McDonald shoots from hip as Fulham stay in hunt
ON THE day Ryan Sessegnon and Tom Cairney formed two-thirds of the Championship Player of the Season shortlist, it was one of Fulham’s unsung heroes who kept their automatic promotion hopes alive. Kevin McDonald scored almost by accident — the crucial touch came off his hip — but it set them on course for a win over Leeds that trims the gap to second-place Cardiff to five points. Even if Fulham’s top-two charge has come too late, they will take some almighty momentum into the play-offs. This was their 18th successive match unbeaten in the league, with 14 of those victories. It will take a Devon Loch-style collapse for Cardiff to miss out from here — especially unlikely with promotion specialist Neil Warnock in charge — but with the Welsh club’s next two fixtures against high-flying Wolves and Aston Villa, hope does remain for Fulham. ‘It depends on them. They must lose for us to catch them,’ said manager Slavisa Jokanovic. ‘They have five points, it is a big difference between us. They have hard games but I believe they will win. We will try chasing them.’ Aleksandar Mitrovic, a far more regular scorer, added their second after the break, rolling home from Tom Cairney’s pass just moments after Caleb Ekuban, clean through, was denied by Marcus Bettinelli at the other end. ‘I felt we were really on top at that moment and if we take that chance we become the favourites in the game,’ said Leeds boss Paul Heckingbottom. There was an element of fortune about the opener. Mitrovic flicked on a Matt Targett corner and the ball struck the oblivious McDonald on the hip and found the bottom corner. Right now, Fulham couldn’t care less how their goals come.
BIRMINGHAM beat Bolton 1-0 to move five points clear of the drop thanks to Lukas Jutkiewicz’s strike.