QUICK ON DRAW
Fulham in a hurry to get back to Prem
FULHAM continued their impressive start as a quick-fire double saw off Millwall in this London derby.
Marco Silva’s men had gone in full of confidence having hammered Huddersfield 5-1 last time out. They wasted no time hitting the net again.
The Cottagers took the lead after just three minutes, with Aleksandar Mitrovic striking past Bartosz Bialkowski at the near post after a mazy run from teenager Fabio Carvalho.
They extended their lead just five minutes later with the mesmerising Carvalho again involved.
It was Silva’s team who controlled the majority of the match before being left to cling on at the end when Benik Afobe got one back – but it was not enough and Fulham remained top of the table in their bid to bounce back immediately to the Premier League.
Carvalho’s electric display may now see Fulham up the ante when it comes to tying him down to a new contract, with his current deal due to expire at the end of the campaign.
He was the standout player, his speed and creativity causing all sorts of problems for Gary Rowett’s side.
And Mitrovic now has four goals from as many league games against Rowett’s side since joining Fulham back in January 2018.
Then it was the turn of young Carvalho. The 18-year-old struck after Neeskens Kebano had accelerated away from the Millwall midfield to slip him through on goal. They should have scored another goal before that when Carvalho sent Ivan Cavaleiro through with only keeper Białkowski to beat and the Millwall defence struggling to get back. But the Portuguese winger could only send his effort wide. Mitrovic should also have done better when a corner was thundered into him, but the Serb was unable to double his tally when the ball cannoned off his thigh and over.
Carvalho also went close to adding to Fulham’s lead only to see his effort curl wide.
Millwall’s late goal made for a frantic end to the contest with Matt Smith’s header bouncing in off Afobe. But Silva’s side claimed the victory – giving them seven points from their opening three matches.
MILLWALL (3-5-2): Białkowski 5; Ballard 5, Wallace 6, Cooper 6; Romeo 4 (Smith 46, 6), Leonard 5 (McNamara 81), Saville 6, Kieftenbeld 6 (Evans 81), Malone 5; Afobe 5, Wallace 5. Goal: Afobe 87. FULHAM (4-2-3-1): Gazzaniga 6; Tete 7, Adarabioyo 6, Ream 7, Robinson 6; Seri 7, Onomah 6 (ZamboAnguissa 46, 6); Kebano 8 (Mawson 90), Carvalho 9, Cavaleiro 7 (Bryan 86); Mitrovic 8. Goals: Mitrovic 3, Carvalho 8.