Smart Alek Josh keeps Cottagers on promotion trail
JOSH ONOMAH was man enough to fill a great big Serbian-style hole as he stepped into Aleksandar Mitrovic’s boots to save Fulham.
Five minutes into the six added on at the end of the game, Onomah swivelled and shot past Lee Camp in the Birmingham goal to give boss Scott Parker the winner he craved.
Until that point, it looked highly likely that Mitrovic’s absence would elbow Fulham down towards the clubs snapping at the heels of those in the play-off places.
The big Serb striker’s 23-goal tally this season was frozen for three games when he was banned for a flying arm thrown in the defeat to Leeds.
Without him, the home side were toothless, mostly aimless, and certainly goalless until Onomah – who came off the bench on the hour mark – showed poise to finish off the Cottagers’ one flowing move of the match.
Instead of being held to their third blank in four games since the restart, Fulham are now looking upwards again – just four points behind second-placed West Brom.
“When Mitrovic isn’t with us, then the boys have to adapt and find a different way to play and I was pleased we eventually did that,” said boss Parker.
“There’s a sense of relief because their goalkeeper pulled off two incredible saves and sometimes you think it might just be one of those days.
“But Josh took his goal superbly.
“Now we’re into the real gritty stuff with just a few games left.”
The defeat must have tasted bitter for Blues and especially for Camp, who produced a superb double save to deny first Joe Bryan and then Bobby Decordova-Reid in the 87th minute.
Without Mitrovic, Decordova-Reid was playing as a false No.9, but he was more of a nonexistent nine.
Birmingham had looked much the more dangerous side throughout the first half and created all the worthwhile chances.
But they were denied by cruel luck in the 13th minute when Jeremie Bela cut in from the left and drove a shot that hit the post.
The rebound was met firmly by the head of Jude Bellingham but the teenager – who looks to be off to Borussia Dortmund at the end of the season – hit his effort against the bar.
Fulham upped their tempo late on but it was still rough justice when Onomah broke through the Blues’ resistance.
With his side sitting only five points above the drop zone, manager Pep Clotet admitted they are in danger.
But he defiantly said: “I never look at the table or over my shoulder. We were sound defensively and we showed a good attitude so there is still much for us to build on.”