Aleksandar Mitrovic won’t have many worse days than this. He skimmed the top of the crossbar with a penalty and, after Fulham had taken the lead through a superb strike from Ademola Lookman, conceded the spot-kick that allowed Sheffield United to equalise with five minutes to play before missing a couple of glorious chances to grab the Whites’ first Premier League win in stoppage time at Bramall Lane. Given what the Serbian has produced during his time at Craven Cottage, it seems churlish to chastise this contribution – but his anguished look after the final whistle told you that the talismanic number nine knew he should have secured a precious three points.
Once the frustration subsides, there will be plenty of positives to take from this trip to Yorkshire for Scott Parker. Dealt a blow in the build up to this meeting between two of the division’s pointless sides by an untimely ankle injury to Joachim Andersen, the Fulham boss opted to hand a Premier League debut to Tosin Adarabioyo, who showed a composure beyond his tender years to display the sort of assurance that had many at Manchester City disappointed to lose him in the last hours of the transfer window. Fulham showed laudable fortitude to shrug off the disappointment of Billy Sharp’s leveller with five minutes to go and finish the more likely winners, qualities that will be needed as they continue to battle against the drop.
The visitors began brightly, with a snapshot from Tom Cairney forcing an early save out of Aaron Ramsdale, but it was the Blades who carried the greater attacking threat for much of the first period. Sander Berge gradually began to pose considerable problems by drifting into pockets of space in front of the Fulham back four and, after Chris Basham dragged his effort across the face of goal following a surging run from the Norwegian, Ollie McBurnie spurned a succession of good chances. He had a header clawed away from six yards out by Alphonse Areola in the Fulham goal and sent another effort wide, whilst Berge and a rampaging Enda Stevens also tested the goalkeeper’s handling with low drives.
Fulham, who had been restricted to speculative efforts with a rasping drive by Mitrovic from a well-worked free-kick fielded by Ramsdale, were much more progressive after the break. Lookman found plenty of space to influence proceedings down the left, even if the penalty that gave the visitors a golden chance to take the lead came out of nowhere with substitute Jack Robinson inexplicably using his hand to prevent Ruben Loftus-Cheek from connecting with Ivan Cavaleiro’s corner. The hosts’ got a huge reprieve when Mitrovic went for power from the spot and saw his rising effort clip the crossbar on its way over.
The visitors were beginning to shut down the acres of space that Sheffield United had enjoyed during the first half and should have gone in front when Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, excellent again at the heart of the Fulham midfield, seized on a slack pass and burst down the middle before releasing Cavaleiro down the right flank. The winger’s cut back looked destined for Loftus-Cheek or Lookman but Jack Robinson made amends for his earlier mistake with a perfectly timed interception. Chris Wilder sent on Rhian Brewster for his top flight debut, it was Fulham who hit the front courtesy of a moment of magic from Lookman.
The lively winger darted inside Berge on the edge of the box and carried the ball past Basham’s attempted challenge at pace before firing an unstoppable finish past Ramsdale high into the net. It was the sort of individual brilliance that the former Charlton academy prospect has been threatening in a couple of impressive cameos since he arrived on loan from RB Leipzig earlier this month and was his first Premier League goal since his debut for Everton in January 2017.
Parker’s men weren’t able to hold on for the win, however. Mitrovic was penalised for bringing down Jack Robinson in the box as he battled to clear a Sheffield United free-kick, with Martin Atkinson awarding the penalty after viewing the pitchside monitor on the instructions of the video assistant referee. Sharp, thrown on just four minutes earlier, made no mistake with the spot-kick – driving his finish straight down the middle to level matters.
At that point, you might have feared the worse for Fulham given the way their return to the Premier League has gone so far. But it was Parker’s side who pushed more convincingly for the winner. Lookman had another rasping drive blocked bravely by Basham, before Adarabioyo headed wastefully over from the corner, and Mitrovic – now certain that it wasn’t going to be his day – failed to find the target with a pair of headers in injury time after inviting crosses from Lookman and Cairney.
SHEFFIELD UNITED (5-3-2): Ramsdale; Lowe (J. Robinson 18), Baldock, Stevens, Egan, Basham (Sharp 81); Norwood, Berge, Lunstram; McBurnie, McGoldrick (Brewster 64). Subs (not used): Verrips, Ampadu, Osborn, Burke, Sharp.
GOAL: Sharp (pen 85).
FULHAM (4-2-3-1): Areola; Aina, A. Robinson, Adarabioyo, Ream; Anguissa, Cairney; Cavaleiro, Lookman, Loftus-Cheek (Lemina 81); Mitrovic. Subs (not used): Rodak, Le Marchand, Bryan, Decordova-Reid, Kebano, Kamara.
BOOKED: Anguissa, Cavaleiro.
GOAL: Lookman (77).
REFEREE: Andre Marriner (Birmingham).
VIDEO ASSISTANT REFEREE: Martin Atkinson (West Yorkshire).
Mitro unfortunately had his worst match today for Fulham. Lookman was classy and in my opinion man of the match. Loftus Cheek looked promising and should prove to be a good acquisition. nion sure about Cavaleiro and in my view should have been substituted by preferably AK47 if not Kesbano after the hour mark. Cairney I am sitting on the fence here. Defensively we looked sounder. With Adarabioyo much better at dealing with crosses which helped Tim Ream. not sure about Aniana at right back.I thought it was two points lost rather than one gained. Having said that it was overall a much better performance.
That was Cairneys best game for while and Tosin did very well at CB.
Lookman is a handful and gets us up on feet.
Mitro….. don’t care if he had an off day, he is brilliant for us.
Must better performance from the whites ?
When Mitro has a bad day he really has a stinker those 2 dropped points could be the difference of staying up or going down, Lookman was brilliant and Cairney was a lot better for a change but I still think we have to get the ball forward much quicker if we are going to score more goals. Possession is no good if there is no end product our second half proves my point we have got to get forward quicker to catch there defence off guard.
Such a frustrating one today. Have to agree with the comments and the general sentiment about it being a real off day for Mitro. He’ll know he should have won that game for us – but as Dan says you can’t slate him too heavily given the quality he has consistently offered us up front. It’s more of a worry that he have nothing to speak of in terms of striking back up.
Plenty of things to be positive about today. Firstly, the fortitude to stick in the game and turn things around despite being outplayed for much of the first half. The quality of Lookman’s goal was outstanding and we were probably good value for all three points across the full ninety minutes. I thought Adarabioyo was absolutely brilliant. Nice performance from Anguissa again and a pleasing cameo from Lemina off the bench as well.
Torrid first half with our midfield just not gelling. Berg had so much freedom down the right for Sheffield and opened us up constantly. Mitrovic and Cavaleiro constantly ceding possession didn’t help. Our keeper showed good, clean handling and Adarabioyo looked assured in his debut and, somehow, we made it to the break on level terms.
I fully expected to see Joe Bryan to make an appearance to support Robinson but it didn’t happen and, slowly but surely, we began to take control with Anguissa and Cairney finally beginning to assert themselves.
Lookman scored a tremendous goal, albeit with a timely piece of fortune as he burst through their defence and he continued to show great ability on the ball thereafter, creating more chances. Lemina looked real class when introduced also.
Unfortunately, Cavaleiro conceded a ridiculous foul by committing a full blown rugby tackle on the touchline, our keeper spilled the resultant free kick after a collision with Robinson and Mitrovic was judged to have given away a penalty -something that would never have been spotted pre-VAR and which, in my opinion, was very harsh.
Overall, a huge improvement and something to build on as, despite their equaliser, we continued to press forward, dominating possession and creating chances that, on another day, would have given us all 3 points.
The honest negatives?
How does Cavaleiro continue to be first choice? I understand that he provides balance but, after yet another dire performance, I, for one, would prefer imbalance.
What to do about Mitrovic? I don’t refer to his missed penalty or other missed chances which, normally, he would have converted. It is his attitude that concerns me. First half yesterday, he looked as though he had just climbed out of bed and his body language was so negative. He is totally unchallenged in his position and it is appearing to look, more and more, like the Martin Jol/Berbatov situation where the forward did whatever he wanted to the detriment of his teammates, occasionally throwing in a world class goal to keep supporters onside but, ultimately, damaging the team. Scott Parker’s tactics for survival depend so much on getting the ball to Mitro and hoping that he will score. We have no backup in case Mitro is injured or suspended or, God forbid, continues to play as he did yesterday. I know he may have been tired after the International trips and games and, believe me, I am trying to give him the benefit of the doubt re his general demeanour but all I ask is that he buck himself up and start playing in a more positive way and not become the prima donna that his current attitude is threatening. I watched the game from Australia and, yet again, the TV analysts highlighted his negative body language.
Anquissa and Cairney were excellent. Lookman looks a class act and Loftus Cheek one he gets fully fit will be a good acquisition. Should have won this game a much better performance. Cavaleiro the only minus , poor game from him.