There were more goals as Fulham struck six again against Bristol City yesterday. While the victory might not have been as comprehensive as the 6-2 scoreline suggests – the new league leaders had to come from behind twice after an Antoine Semenyo double, Aleksandar Mitrovic grabbed his second first-half hat-trick of the season. Herbie Archer analyses how the Serbian put the Robins defence to the sword …
FULHAM 1-1 BRISTOL CITY (MITROVIC 21)
Despite finding themselves a goal down early, Fulham dominated possession with most of the first period being played in the Bristol City half. Marco Silva’s commitment to having a high number of players high up the pitch isn’t a surprise. You can see from the image below that the hosts have eight players in and around the Bristol City box, leaving visitors having to mark one-on-one.
Antonee Robinson and Kenny Tete are well advanced, pushing the Bristol wing-backs back and leaving Andy King to press Harry Wilson. The veteran midfielder’s tentative effort allows the Welsh winger to shift the ball into the red zone I’ve highlighted with relative ease. This gives him the strongest angle to cross the ball. Jay Da Silva finds himself in no-man’s land against Robinson but is also drawn to the unmarked Fabio Carvalho, so he sits between both players. That leaves Mitrovic with a straightforward battle against Zak Vyner.
The quality of Wilson’s delivery affords Mitrovic a run to the aerial duel, with Vyner having to compete from a standing start. Mitrovic has a huge advantage – and the sly nudge he gives the young defender as the cross comes towards him only accentuates it. The positioning of Max O’Leary in goal could be questioned as he leaves the far corner slightly open, but Mitrovic’s header is magnificent with the power and accuracy making it almost unstoppable.
FULHAM 4-2 BRISTOL CITY (MITROVIC 41)
The Serbian’s second came four minutes before half time direct from a corner. Fulham have been extremely successful in executing set piece plays under Marco Silva this season and this was another excellent example of the training ground being used effectively as Mitrovic rose highest in the box to score into the corner.
Callum O’Dowda had the unenviable task of marking Mitrovic from the set piece, but his job was made doubly difficult due to the actions of Tosin Adarabioyo. The Fulham centre back looked directly at Mitrovic, locking off his man, allowing the in-form striker to attack the space straight in front of him whilst screening off O’Dowda.
As Tom Cairney’s corner comes in and others make runs, the space opens up for Mitrovic to attack, with Tosin still holding back O’Dowda. Mitrovic saunters into the space, rises highest and plants an emphatic header past a helpless O’Leary.
FULHAM 5-2 BRISTOL CITY (MITROVIC 45+1)
Bristol City had barely recovered from that setback before Mitrovic had completed his hat-trick in stoppage time. Captain Cairney chalked up a second assist in six minutes with a more classical piece of playmaking from open play. Cairney drove past the Robins midfield after being found by Carvalho and Harry Wilson made a clever run across the Bristol City back three attacking the space between the middle and left-sided centre backs. They were forced to stick with Cairney and Wilson, leaving Mitrovic with oceans of space to the right.
When Cairney’s pass comes to Mitrovic, he takes a confident touch inside, opening up the angle for the far corner. The defender expects him to take it onto his preferred right foot, however by cutting in on his left, Mitrovic has more space and time to line up his shot and finish fabulously into the top corner, putting the game well out of City’s reach.
