Aleksandar Mitrović’s 50th goal for Fulham was enough to progress from the Carabao Cup second round against Ipswich Town on Wednesday evening.
The victory sets up a home clash with Sheffield Wednesday, to be played in the week commencing 21stSeptember.
Scott Parker made nine changes from Saturday’s Premier League opener, including debuts for Alphonse Areola, Kenny Tete, Antonee Robinson and Mario Lemina. Mitrović captained the side in his first start of the campaign.
After only 50 seconds had gone, Fulham had their first sniff at goal. Neeskens Kebano smartly pinched the ball off an Ipswich man in the corner before slotting it across for Anthony Knockaert, but his shot was over.
Five minutes later and Knockaert was able to have another go. This time he managed to cut inside from the right, but there was too much loft on his effort.
Fulham were piling on the pressure now, and a couple minutes later had another close call on goal. André-Frank Zambo Anguissa lingered on the edge of the Ipswich box from a corner and struck a sweet first-time volley that was narrowly wide.
Ipswich gradually grew into the game in a cagey next ten minutes, but Fulham were still much the greater threat. On 18 minutes, tidy link-up between Tete and Bobby De Cordova-Reid gave the latter a run on goal, requiring a last-ditch block from a blue defender to clear.
The Tractor Boys’ first real danger came after 26 minutes. Gwion Edwards rounded Robinson before crossing towards the imposing Oli Hawkins, but he couldn’t stab his effort on target from the six-yard box, under good pressure from Denis Odoi.
Knockaert had been lively so far, but perhaps his best chance so far arose after 34 minutes. De Cordova-Reid was on hand yet again to link the play after Robinson’s rampant run down the left, and Knockaert’s guided effort was inches away from the postage stamp top-left corner.
The Fulham force was eventually rewarded through a lovely worked move. Starting deep in the Fulham half, Maxime Le Marchand switched the play completely with a wonderous cross-field ball. Kenny Tete then brought the ball forward before crossing to Mitrović, who made no mistake planting home his header from close range for a birthday goal.
Emyr Huws had a decent chance to level just before the break after finding himself in space on the 18-yard line. His shot was sliced though, and soared well wide to leave Fulham with a deserved half-time lead.
Huws then turned provider in the first major action of the second half, teeing up Armando Dobra with a looping cross. Fortunately, Denis Odoi was there to nullify the threat.
It was a wonder the score stayed at 0-1 after 59 minutes. A brilliant double stop from David Cornell denied Mitrović and then De Cordova-Reid from close quarters after yet another cross caused defensive difficulty.
Knockaert was hungry for a goal tonight, and his latest attempt just past the hour was a hair length wide of the right post from a 25-yard shot.
Tom Cairney then replaced Lemina, who had made a healthy first impression on his Fulham debut.
A further midfield change was then employed after 69 minutes as Harrison Reed swapped with Zambo Anguissa.
Tom Cairney licked his lips after Knockaert’s ball from a short corner left him in miles of room on the edge of the box, but his trademark left-foot pearler wasn’t quite on point on this occasion and Cornell tipped over.
After Mitrović was fouled 30 yards out, Kebano had a prime opportunity to double the lead, given his dead-ball ability. His dipping effort was menacing but didn’t quite come down fast enough.
The third Fulham sub was made after 80 minutes, as Joe Bryan switched with Tete, who had an impressive debut assist to take home.
De Cordova-Reid forced the issue and managed an attempt from the edge of the area, but he didn’t catch it quite right and it was simple enough for Cornell.
In the end Fulham’s quality showed throughout the pitch in an impressive all-round display, keeping the cup journey going.
Fulham: Areola, Robinson, Tete (Bryan), Le Marchand, Odoi, Kebano, Zambo Anguissa (Reed), De Cordova-Reid, Lemina (Cairney), Knockaert, Mitrović
Subs Not Used: Hector, Cavaleiro, Francois, Fabri