IT’S MITRO GLYCERIN...
Explosive Aleks destroys Swansea
STRIKER Aleksandar Mitrovic bullied Swansea with a first-half hat-trick as Fulham got their promotion bid back on track.
The 27-year-old Serbian is a man reborn under boss Marco Silva after last term’s relegation campaign.
Mitrovic claimed the match-ball with a treble that made it 10 Championship goals in 10 games and sees him back in explosive form as the division’s top scorer.
And it is a world away from just three top-flight goals last season after falling out of favour with former Cottagers boss Scott Parker.
Fulham howled for a penalty early on when Harry Wilson went down under a challenge from Ryan Manning, but referee Joshua Smith waved away protests.
The home side did take a deserved lead, however, after 12 minutes.
Tim Ream headed the ball into the area and Mitrovic turned Kyle Naughton inside out before firing home.
Fulham should have doubled their advantage after 27 minutes.
A flowing move saw Mitrovic sent clear on the left and he turned provider with a perfectly weighted cross for Bobby DecordovaReid – but the winger got his finish all wrong.
There was a huge blow for Swansea on the half-hour as playmaker Olivier Ntcham went down with what looked a hamstring injury.
And barely had substitute Korey Smith run on to the pitch on 32 minutes than Mitrovic struck again.
Neeskens Kebano slid the ball across the box and Mitrovic glided the ball in.
But before half-time Swansea forward Joel Piroe sent Jamie Paterson clear, he dummied Paulo Gazzaniga, then steered the ball home.
However, Mitrovic replied by completing his hat-trick in the 45th minute.
Two sloppy moments could have seen the scores levelled, as Flynn Downes fired over and Ethan Laird’s deflected shot hit the post.
But it was Fulham’s night.