Raul Jimenez bagged a brace as Fulham ran out comfortable winners at Luton Town on the last day of the Premier League season, confirming the Hatters’ relegation and allowing Marco Silva’s side to climb above Wolverhampton Wanderers into thirteenth place in the final table.
An entertaining encounter, played with little tension as Luton’s hopes of a twelve-goal swing in their favour on the final were dealt an early blow by Chris Wood opening the scoring for Nottingham Forest in the second minute, saw Rob Edwards’ side miss a number of presentable chances in stark contrast to their opponents. Fulham, who had only won one of their last eight matches in a disappointing end to a commendable campaign, were clinical in front of goal despite Silva making six changes to his starting line-up.
The visitors dominated possession in the early summer sunshine, in front of Tony and Shahid Khan, but their only sight of goal was an outrageous effort from the halfway line by Joao Palhinha. Bernd Leno, who was ruled out of this summer’s European Championships due to a longstanding shoulder injury earlier this week, showed no ill effects as he dashed from his line and prevented Carlton Morris from chipping Luton into the lead after the striker had turned sharply in the penalty area.
Harry Wilson, afforded a start on the right flank, curled a trademark effort wide after linking up with Alex Iwobi before a strong spell from the hosts saw Jordan Clark’s shot deflected away for a corner by the covering Calvin Bassey and Daiki Hashioka wasting a glorious chance on the half volley after he ghosted in at the far post. Tahith Chong did then have the ball in the net after Leno had failed to hold a shot from Chiedozie Ogbene – but his effort was ruled out for offside.
Former Fulham academy graduate Elijah Adebayo probably should have given Rob Edwards’ men the lead when he beat a faulty offside trap, but Leno saved superbly with his feet. Raul Jimenez, starting up front for the Cottagers, then wasted a glorious chance of his own when he somehow headed an inviting cross from Adama Traore wide of goal from close range. But that miss was soon academic as Traore took matters into his own hands, thundering a low strike into the corner after being found by Wilson following a poor clearance from Thomas Kaminski.
Luton levelled within three minutes when Bassey brought down Ogbene in the box after the winger had seen a shot blocked by Antonee Robinson. Morris stepped up to send Leno the wrong way from the penalty spot, but Fulham still went in ahead at half-time with Jimenez restoring their lead after a sweeping move from the restart. The veteran striker celebrated becoming the record Mexican appearance holder in the Premier League by stroking in a sumptuous finish from Wilson’s cut back.
Jimenez was at it again just four minutes after the interval. The former Wolves forward showed his prowess in the air, glancing a Harrison Reed free-kick in via the far post to give Silva’s side a two-goal cushion. To their immense credit, Luton continued to commit bodies forward and reduced the deficit through a low free-kick from Alfie Doughty within six minutes, but Fulham always looked to have another gear available.
Wilson went agonisingly close to making it four – hitting the crossbar from a clever free-kick after the ball was rolled into his path by Reed. But the Welshman got his goal nine minutes later, curling past Kaminski after unselfish play from the excellent Traore. There might have been more goals for the Whites in the closing stages with substitute Tom Cairney seeing a superb strike thwarted by substitute goalkeeper James Shea before Bobby De Cordova-Reid stabbed an effort into the side netting from a short corner.
But Fulham’s first final day win since 2017 and a first league double over Luton since 1954 was a fine way to finish another commendable top flight campaign before the travelling supporters afforded first team coach Luis Boa Morte an emotional send-off following the final whistle as the Fulham favourite prepares to take over as national team coach of Guinea-Bisseau.
LUTON TOWN (3-4-3): Kaminski (Shea 76); Osho, Hashioka, Mengi (Johnson 17); Clark (Mpanzu 70), Lokonga, Ogbene (Townsend 76); Morris, Chong, Adebayo (Woodrow 76). Subs (not used): Krul, Berry, Onyedinma, Piesold.
BOOKED: Lokonga, Clark, Doughty, Morris, Johnson.
GOALS: Morris (pen 45+1), Doughty (55).
FULHAM (4-2-3-1): Leno; Tete, A. Robinson (Ballo-Toure 78), Ream, Bassey; Reed (Cairney 75), Palhinha (Castagne 90); Wilson, Traore (De Cordova-Reid 79), Iwobi; Jimenez (Muniz 90). Subs (not used): Rodak, Pereira, Willian, Broja.
BOOKED: Reed, Robinson, Traore, Cairney.
GOALS: Traore (43), Jimenez (45+3, 49), Wilson (69).
REFEREE: Matt Donohue (Greater Manchester).
