Muniz shines as Mitro not missed
COTTAGERS ARE COASTING BACK TO PREM
By at the bet365 Stadium
WHO needs Nitro Mitro?
Aleksandar Mitrovic and his 27 goals were ensconced at home as Fulham opened up an eight-point gap at the top of the Championship.
Another key man, Harry Wilson, was also missing.
Both are thought to have Covid symptoms but Fulham boss Marco Silva would only say: “We are talking about illnesses. From the first day I have never mentioned the players having Covid.
“What I can say it is an illness and it was a problem for us from last Tuesday to prepare for the match.”
Mitrovic did not travel to Stoke and Brazilian Rodrigo Muniz took advantage of a rare chance.
He might have had a hat-trick in a sizzling game.
Stoke were ahead in an amazing 27 seconds through D’Margio Wright-Phillips on his full home debut, Muniz equalised after two minutes and Fulham were ahead with Fabio Carvalho’s 33rd-minute goal.
Still the Potters came back and Lewis Baker, on his full debut, equalised 13 minutes into the second half.
Stoke were on top from then on but keeper Jack Bonham failed to claim a corner, Muniz’s header hit the bar and Bobby Decordova-Reid slammed in the winner.
But even then the drama wasn’t over, substitute Jaden Philogene-Bidace hitting the post for Stoke three minutes from time.
“It was great character from us with key players missing and not making the start we wanted to the game,” added Silva.
“The crowd was behind Stoke and they are a good team. But still we got the win. I am proud of that performance.”
With Bournemouth losing at home, Fulham are beginning to get a firm hold on promotion back to the Premier League with one defeat in their last 16 league games.
But when Stoke took the lead inside 27 seconds, Fulham had a fight on their hands.
Afterwards, Potters boss Michael O’Neill was furious, claiming ref Dean Whitestone missed a foul on keeper Bonham before the winner.
“Carvalho had got hold of Bonham,” said O’Neill who rowed with the referee at the end.
“I thought we played really well and if we keep up that kind of performance we’ll be in the top six.” The hectic start began with Josh Tymon’s cross turned in from close range on the volley by Wright-Phillips.
He celebrated his first goal with two bouncing cartwheels.
But take a breath, take two – and Fulham were level. Muniz collected Harrison Reed’s pass and got past both Phil Jagielka and James Chester, hitting an equaliser with his right foot.
Chester was at fault again when Fulham went ahead, failing to cut out a pass as Decordova-Reid set up Carvalho for a sidefooted shot that went in off the post.
Grandad Ian Wright, in the Sky studio, must have had a big smile on his face as the impressive Wright-Phillips set up two chances, but neither were taken.
Baker hit a fierce 25-yarder to equalise for Stoke, but then came Decordova-Reid’s decisive moment.
STOKE CITY: Bonham 5; Harwood-Bellis 6, Jagielka 6, Chester 6; Smith 6, Baker 7, Allen 6 (Ince 79), Clucas 6, Tymon 7; Wright-Phillips 8 (Philogene-Bidace 84), Brown 6 (Campbell 79).
Subs not used: Fielding, Fox, Vrancic, Fletcher. FULHAM: Rodak 6; Tete 7 (Odoi 51, 5), Adarabioyo 7, Ream 7, Robinson 7; Cairney 7, Reed 7; Muniz 8, Carvalho 8, Kebano 7( Chalobah 72, 5); Decordova-Reid 7 (Knockaert 85).
Subs not used: Gazzaniga, Hector, Onomah, Stansfield MAN OF THE MATCH: Rodrigo Muniz. Big Mitrovic boots to fill and could have had hat-trick. REFEREE: Dean Whitestone 5.