MIT AND MISS
Leaders stumble without star man
FULHAM talisman Aleksandar Mitrovic was a shock absentee as his side’s seven-match winning streak came to an end.
The Cottagers failed to score for the first time since September without their 21-goal Serbian striker as Wayne Rooney’s basement club held firm to return to a positive points tally after their recent deductions.
Fabio Carvalho went close to opening the scoring for Fulham early on but shot just wide.
And it was Derby who were unfortunate not to take a shock lead themselves.
Captain Tom Lawrence’s superb run and turn set up a chance for himself with Paulo Gazzaniga pushing
FULHAM DERBY 0 0
away. At the other end, Jean Michael Seri was denied by the crossbar as he let fly from 25 yards.
Fulham continued to create chances but were lacking fluency.
Neeskens Kebano saw a deflected free-kick pushed wide by Kelle Roos before Carvalho’s run and low shot just missed the target.
Rodrigo Muniz was looking to show what he can do in Mitrovic’s absence but he fired painfully wide after a misplaced Graeme Shinnie back-pass.
Derby, though, threatened on the break with Lawrence denied again by Gazzaniga after Seri’s tackle had deflected into his path.
Fulham, who were also without Marek Rodak and Tom Cairney, continued to press for the opener at the start of the second half with Carvalho once again going close before hitting the post.
The West Londoners had found the net an astonishing 48 times this season prior to this game. But it was just not their night despite piling on the pressure.
Muniz then missed a sitter with the goal at his mercy after the Derby stopper had denied Carvalho yet again.
The Brazilian came close to redeeming himself with an overhead kick from Kenny Tete’s cross but was a whisker away.
But Derby, now 16 points from safety, held firm with another spirited display to go alongside Sunday’s 3-2 win over Bournemouth.
And they went close to winning it in the dying stages as Gazzaniga saved from Jason Knight’s drive.