Mitro’s head of the class
ALEKSANDAR MITROVIC headed Fulham to the brink of promotion back to the Premier League.
The Serb notched his 38th goal in just 37 Championship matches to conjure another away win for Marco Silva’s rampant side. They are now 17 points clear of third-placed Huddersfield and virtually guaranteed to go up.
Mitrovic broke free of his marker in the Boro box and, with a mighty leap, flicked Harry Wilson’s free-kick into the top corner with a deft header in the 73rd minute.
Moments earlier, he had recovered from a crunching tackle on the top of his foot by Matt Crooks.
Mitrovic’s tally is the best by a striker in the second tier since 1993 – and he is likely to hit 40 by the end of the season.
The result ended Boro’s run of eight home wins. It was, though, a hard fought and tight game with chances at a premium.
Boro’s best came in injury time when Duncan Watmore slashed over the bar with the goal at his mercy. Dael Fry handed Mitrovic an early chance with a sloppy backpass but the Serb scuffed wide. Boro could have done better with their best breakaway of the first half, when
Mitrovic gave the ball away and Andraz Sporar raced in on goal before Jonny Howson’s shot.
The real quality opportunity Fulham carved out came when Kenny Tete flashed across goal and Bobby Decordova-Reid could not get a firm enough touch at the back post.
Chris Wilder’s men appeared at their maximum keeping Fulham at bay but had a flurry after an hour – and Crooks was involved in their best moments.
Sporar rifled in a shot that skidded in the rain storm and had Marek Rodak at full stretch to save. Sub Josh Coburn shaved a post with a late header from Marc Bola’s cross before Watmore blazed over as Fulham held out.
MIDDLESBROUGH (3-5-2): Lumley 6; Dijksteel 5, Fry 6, McNair 6; Taylor 5 (Bola 56, 6), Peltier 5 (McGree 59, 6), Howson 7, Crooks 7 (Coburn 76), Tavernier 7; Watmore 6, Sporar 6
FULHAM (4-2-3-1): Rodak 7; Tete 7, Tosin 7, Ream 7, Bryan 6 (Robinson 82); Reed 7, Chalobah 6 (Onomah 64, 6); Wilson 7, Carvalho 6, Decordova-Reid 7 (Kebano 64); Mitrovic 8. Goal: Mitrovic 73.