Aleksandar Mitrovic scored twice as Fulham came from two goals down to breathe life into their relegation battle with a 4-2 win over Brighton.
By Andy Sims, Press Association Sport
January 29 2019 9:47 PM
Aleksandar Mitrovic scored twice as Fulham came from two goals down to breathe life into their relegation battle with a 4-2 win over Brighton.
The Cottagers, who had lost all four of their previous matches since the turn of the year, were staring down the barrel of another defeat after two first-half goals from Glenn Murray.
But Calum Chambers pulled one back with his first Fulham goal before two trademark Mitrovic headers put the hosts in front, and Luciano Vietto opened his account with the fourth to wrap up the victory.
Manager Claudio Ranieri had urged his players to “continue to fight” after the narrow defeat by Tottenham nine days ago.
It was a message taken a little too literally by striker Aboubakar Kamara who has since been suspended by the club following an altercation at the training ground.
But Fulham certainly showed plenty of mettle in a thrilling second-half display which will raise hopes that they can still save themselves this season.
Fulham have conceded more goals than any other team in Europe’s five major leagues this season, and it was easy to see why in the first half.
Just three minutes had elapsed when Martin Montoya was allowed to stride unchallenged down the right and cross for Murray to guide home.
Then another Montoya ball into the box was only half-cleared by Denis Odoi and Pascal Gross’ attempted shot fell kindly for Murray to strike again, hitting his seventh goal in his last five league matches against Fulham.