Free-scoring Fulham fire five in fine win

Posted Wednesday, March 09, 2022 by PA

Fulham moved another step closer to a return to the Premier League as they hammered home five goals against 10-man Swansea.

A 5-1 win allowed them to move even further ahead at the top of the table after Bournemouth were held to a 1-1 draw by Peterborough. The Cottagers now hold a 14-point lead.

All the goals came after half-time, Aleksandar Mitrovic’s opener added to by Ben Cabango’s own goal, Bobby DeCordova-Reid’s close-range finish and Neco Williams’ first two for Fulham. Joel Piroe scored Swansea’s consolation.

The visitors had been forced to be patient as Russell Martin’s men enjoyed 65 per cent possession in the opening 10 minutes.

Fulham keeper Marek Rodak was finally forced to show his quality when Michael Obafemi got a run on goal and fired in a shot from 25 yards that forced the Slovakia international to fly full length to his left to touch it away from the top corner.

But the defining moment of the first half came when Swans captain Ryan Manning received his marching orders.

The Republic of Ireland full-back had had an earlier run-in in the opening exchanges with Harry Wilson and when he lunged full length at the Wales winger just inside the Fulham half, referee Jarred Gillett had no hesitation in immediately brandishing his red card and any chance Swansea had of making it three wins in a row evaporated.

Just before the break Mitrovic headed a far-post cross from Williams back across the goal and only inches wide of the left-hand upright.

Then, with only 14 seconds showing on the clock after the restart, Swansea passed the ball back to goalkeeper Andy Fisher, fatally lost possession on the edge of their area and two passes later Mitrovic had pounced to side-foot the ball into the net.

Worse was to follow for the home side seven minutes later when another attack ended with Cabango putting the ball into his own net, and Decordova-Reid made it 3-0 five minutes after coming on in the 67th minute.

The Swans pulled one back when Piroe headed home his 16th goal of the season, but there was another sting in the tail from the visitors as Williams scored twice in the closing stages – the second a superb strike from the right-hand side.