Ful steam ahead
SCOTT PARKER claimed the pressure is on West Brom and Brentford after Fulham’s fivestar performance means the battle for automatic promotion goes to a thrilling final day.
Two goals each from Neeskens Kebano and Aleksandar Mitrovic – now the Championship’s top scorer – plus a late strike from sub Bobby Decordova-Reid saw the Cottagers close the gap on the two wobbling teams above them.
And victory at Wigan on Wednesday – along with defeat for the second-placed Baggies and the Bees failing to win – would see the Cottagers back in the top-flight without the need of the playoffs.
Parker’s team are on a six-game unbeaten run. He said: “Momentum is definitely with us. It is not in our hands but it hasn’t been for large parts. My team haven’t got the credit they deserve. Since lockdown my side have been very, very good.
“If the season ends on Wednesday, it will be amazing. If not, my team will be ready for another three games in 17 days.”
Parker had made five changes from the team which drew at the Hawthorns on Tuesday.
And one of the new faces, Kebano, fired his first goal since December 2017 – followed by his trademark backflip. Mitrovic doubled the lead with the goal of the game when he completed a flowing move out from the back.
The Serbian then rammed home his 26th Fulham goal of the season – and his 34th for club and country – from the spot after Dominic Iorfa brought down Kebano in the box just before the break.
Wednesday won the second-half – and briefly threatened a comeback – after Jacob Murphy, Connor Wickham and Atdhe Nuhiu came on at the break. The Kosovan striker first netted from the spot after Cottagers keeper Marek Rodak brought down Murphy.
Kebano had seemed to end the contest after 73 minutes when he rolled a free-kick under the wall.
But Murphy saw his deflected shot find the corner of the net and then Nuhiu headed home his second to take the score to 4-3 with seven minutes of injury time left only for Decordova-Reid to seal the win.
Wednesday remain just eight points above the drop zone – with the possible point deduction for the controversial sale and leaseback of Hillsborough hanging over the club.
Manager Garry Monk said: “To score three goals against a very good side but to come off losing through errors is very frustrating.”