......... 3 0
THERE is no stopping Aleksandar Mitrovic right now. The big Serb’s hat-trick means he has now hit 18 goals in just 15 games this season.
Championship defences are quaking whenever he moves into sight.
Mind you, he had a bit of help from hapless referee Michael Salisbury yesterday.
The ropey ref awarded Mitrovic a soft penalty that set him on his way at Craven Cottage with the first goal.
And fellow promotion contenders Albion were left bamboozled by Salisbury – not just for the penalty, but the harsh late sending off of Darnell Furlong.
The card-happy official then showed a red to Fulham defender Tosin Adarabioyo towards the end to leave both sides with ten men in a game that was hardly dirty.
In all, Salisbury brandished three yellows and two reds – and it is five sending offs in four games now for the Lancashire official.
But none of that can take any of the glory away from Mitrovic – who is on fire right now.
His best ever tally in a season for Fulham was 26, when they went up in 2019-20. The striker, 27, looks set to pass that with ease.
Cottagers manager Marco Silva said: “Mitro’s numbers speak for themselves.
“For him to score comes from fantastic work from the team. He is not just a player to score goals – he is important for us on the pitch. I am pleased to see the way he is scoring and working – and pleased to see him in a good mood.”
Fulham, watched by former Cottagers and England boss Roy Hodgson, got the start they needed when Kyle Bartley was harshly judged to have brought down Mitrovic in the area – and the prolific striker slammed home the penalty.
Albion had their chances and Matt Clarke saw his effort saved, – but on the stroke of half-time they shot themselves in the foot when Robert Snodgrass was robbed by Jean Michael Seri and Mitrovic stabbed home.
Valerien Ismael’s side tried to hit back but Jake Livermore fired over from close range – and when Furlong was shown a harsh straight red by Salisbury for his tackle on Harry Wilson,
Albion’s day was done.
Ten minutes later, Wilson dribbled to the byline, pulled the ball back and Mitrovic was in yards of space to blast home.
That should have been it – but then Adarabioyo got his marching orders for a lunge on Grady Diangana.
Ismael said: “I don’t want to talk about the penalty. I am more concerned with our mistakes.
“Individual errors cost us. The red card was the final shot – but Fulham deserved to win.”
FULHAM: Rodak 7; Odoi 7, Adarabioyo 7, Ream
7, Robinson 7; Reed 7 (Carvalho 80th), Seri 7; Wilson 6, Decordova-Reid 7, Kebano 7 (Cairney
80th); Mitrovic 8 (Muniz 80th)
WEST BROM: Johnstone 6; Ajayi 6, Bartley 5, Clarke 5; Furlong 6, Livermore 5, Snodgrass
5, Townsend 6; Phillips 6 (Diangana (58th) 6), Hugill 5 (Robinson (58th) 6), Grant 6 (Molumby
(73rd) 6)
STAR MAN: Aleksandar Mitrovic
REF: M Salisbury