MIT’S A BIG HIT!
Loan star steals it
ALEKSANDAR MITROVIC extended his stunning Fulham scoring streak to ramp up the pressure on promotion rivals Cardiff last night.
Mitrovic’s 76th-minute header – his 12th goal since arriving from Newcastle on loan in January – moved the Cottagers two points clear of the Welsh club in second place.
Neil Warnock’s men face Hull today, but the battle for an automatic promotion place is now set to go to a final-day shoot-out.
Not that this was a breeze for Slavisa Jokanovic’s men, who were forced to come back after Joel Asoro’s Sunderland opener.
They also survived a strong penalty appeal just before Lucas Piazon levelled in the 44th minute.
And Serbian star Mitrovic completed the comeback, albeit from a marginally offside position, when he nodded in a free-kick.
There was an air of expectation inside Craven Cottage as the hosts attempted to turn the screw on the Bluebirds.
But Fulham had started slowly in last week’s win at play-off-chasing Millwall and they once again struggled to get into their stride with a succession of failed passes.
It was the rock-bottom side that looked the most threatening, with Ashley Fletcher keeping home keeper Marcus Bettinelli on his toes with a long-range effort.
Ryan Fredericks sent an angled shot in on Jason Steele’s goal, but it was clear Jokanovic’s side were labouring and they were punished when Asoro fired Sunderland ahead in the 28th minute.
The winger collected a nod down and turned left-back Matt Targett before drilling a low shot beyond Bettinelli from 20 yards.
Fulham weren’t firing but they worked their way back on level terms just before the break, although the Black Cats were convinced they were on the wrong end of a dodgy decision.
Referee Peter Bankes waved play on when Ovie Ejaria went down in the home box under a challenge from Tim Ream.
The Cottagers broke immediately, with Aboubakar Kamara leading the charge before Fredericks drilled in a low cross that was turned home by Piazon.
The home side stepped up the pace after the break and their dominance was rewarded when Mitrovic pounced.