Mitrovic can’t stop scoring!
MARCO SILVA says Aleksandar Mitrovic’s hat-trick in Fulham’s stunning victory over Bristol City summed up the striker’s qualities.
Mitrovic completed his third treble of the season before half-time with two powerful headers and an outstanding left-foot finish to take his season tally to 27 league goals.
Neeskens Kebano scored twice and Fabio Carvalho was also on target as Fulham followed up the 7-0 midweek win at Reading — in which Mitrovic scored a brace — with another three points to move to the top of the Championship.
Fulham boss Silva said: ‘The way he scored some goals this afternoon was Mitrovic, nothing more to say. Okay, yes, you know, his skills, his quality and what he’s capable to do in the box.
‘The way he scored the two headers and after that great finishing in the hat-trick was very good. Some of the other goals were good as well. Our frontline is is doing really well and last Tuesday at Reading Harry Wilson was at a top level.
‘It was the other forwards and as a manager you like to see that in general. Some players they perform well.’
Fulham have now scored 64 league goals in 25 games but Silva insists it is unrealistic to expect his side to maintain their scoring streak.
He said: ‘My players know they will not always score six or seven. Because if someone expects them to score always this type of score it’s a big mistake. Of course no one inside this football club is thinking this way.
You know how it is. We were 11 games and unbeaten and after we were five games without a win so everything has changed so quick. ‘Of course if you ask me if I’m happy with the score, it’s the way you like to do it.
‘But I will be happy if we win our next game one nil.’
Antoine Semenyo put Bristol City ahead after seven minutes and then restored the visitors’ lead in the 29th minute after Mitrovic had equalised. But Kebano, Carvalho and two more from Mitrovic gave Fulham a three-goal half-time lead before Kebano made it six in the 57th minute.
City boss Nigel Pearson said: ‘We were bullied at times and it was quite evident there was a difference in quality.
‘We conceded four goals from set plays without really laying a glove on them. We surrendered too easily and at times we forced the play when it wasn’t on and didn’t force it when we could have done.
‘Mitrovic is an excellent player and it would not be fair to not recognise his qualities. But we needed to be more physical with him.
‘I would expect Fulham to make automatic promotion.’