The Championship’s top goalscorers beat the team that has leaked the most goals — but only just.
Marco Silva’s team required a 74th-minute header from Aleksandar Mitrovic to remain two points behind the leaders Bournemouth and build a six-point advantage over West Bromwich Albion in third. It was the Serbia striker’s 20th goal of the season and his tenth in the past six games. In the past five of those Fulham have not conceded a goal, and this time their goalkeeper Marek Rodak was key.
“These are fantastic numbers for us,” Silva said. “The key for our win was that we never lost patience. We were the best team from start to the end; the team that wanted to win.”
Fulham were conspicuous for their lack of a cutting edge during the first half, when Peterborough could have been ahead by a couple of goals. Jonson Clarke-Harris starting for the first time since a four-match ban for historical homophobic social media posts, hit the angle in the 33rd minute from 14 yards out.
Rodak was then required to make saves from Sammie Szmodics and Joe Ward, the latter from a free kick, before Silva’s side created anything like a chance. Harry Wilson’s pass was perfect for Neeskens Kebano but the winger leaned back and struck over.
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Fulham were transformed after the break, and Peterborough’s goalkeeper Dai Cornell went from spectator to key performer as Fulham began to threaten. First he parried a fierce effort from Mitrovic and then denied him on the turn. Mitrovic regardless scored in the 74th minute when Kebano crossed from the right and he simply headed in from four yards. Rodak then tipped Clarke-Harris’s effort on to a post before watching him send another wide from closer range after Fulham had struggled to clear a corner.
The Peterborough manager Darren Ferguson was adamant his side should not have lost. “It’s a rubbish result,” he said. “When we have a game like that against a team like Fulham and have four or five really good opportunities, you have to win the game.”
Peterborough (4-4-2): D Cornell 8 — J Ward 6 (I Kanu 85min), F Kent 6, M Beevers 6 (R Edwards 80), D Butler 7 — S Szmodics 7, O Norburn 7, J Taylor 7, H Burrows 6 (K Poku 85) — S Dembele 6, J Clarke-Harris 7. Booked Norburn.
Fulham (4-2-3-1): M Rodak 8 — D Odoi 5 (K Tete 46, 6), M Hector 7, T Ream 7, A Robinson 7 — J M Seri 6 (H Cairney 64, 6), H Reed 7 — H Wilson 7, B Decordova-Reid 7, N Kebano 7 — A Mitrovic 7. Booked Odoi, Kebano, Ream, Cairney.
Referee D Whitestone.
