A valiant fight back fell just short as Fulham were defeated 4-3 by Leeds United at Elland Road on Saturday afternoon.
A veritable goal-fest saw the hosts take an early lead before Aleksandar Mitrović levelled from the penalty spot to grab his first league goal of the season. Three goals from Mateusz Klich, Patrick Bamford and Hélder Costa appeared to put the game out of reach before second-half substitute Bobby De Cordova-Reid pulled one back in the 61st minute. Mitro headed home to score his second to set up a pulsating finish, but the hosts held firm to make sure the three points remained in West Yorkshire.
Scott Parker made four changes from the side that lost to Arsenal on the opening day of the 2020/21 campaign. Alphonse Areola, Kenny Tete, André-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Aleksandar Mitrović all kept their places in the starting XI from the midweek clash with Ipswich Town in the Carabao Cup.
It was a beautifully warm early autumn day as the referee got the match under way at Elland Road.
After an early curled effort from Joe Bryan that went marginally wide from a set play, it was the hosts who took the lead in the fifth minute.
A corner from the right was swung into a crowded box that eluded everyone except an unmarked Costa at the back post. With a lot of work to do from a tight angle, the winger lashed home an effort off the underside of the bar with a wicked left-footed drive. There was very little that Areola could do, with the ball rifling into the back of the net in the blink of an eye.
In the 13th minute we had a chance of our own from a set-piece. A nicely worked corner was met by the head of Michael Hector. Despite a good connection, the imposing centre-back’s header took a deflection and went behind for another corner.
A frenetic paced game didn’t relent and with both teams implementing a high press the match was full of action, the referee playing his part in an open encounter.
In the 33rd minute we were provided with a lifeline to pull back level. After stealing possession in the opposition half a lung busting run from Bryan down the left wing was spotted by Ivan Cavaleiro. A neat ball in behind the back line spliced open the defence and after touching it past the onrushing Robin Koch the fullback was struck by the trailing leg of the German centre-back. The referee pointed to the spot, penalty to Fulham.
Mitrović stepped up and lashed a low effort underneath Illan Meslier for his first Premier League goal of the campaign.
Minutes after clawing our way back into the match, another penalty was awarded. Bryan, who had won the spot-kick for Fulham, was adjudged to have pushed Bamford in the back after the striker had nipped in behind to attack a cross to the back post.
Klich confidently sent Areola the wrong way and rolled his shot into the back of the net. A one goal lead restored on the stroke of half-time.
With the match delicately poised at the start of the second half, we were two goals behind within five minutes. The Fulham defence was caught square as Klich threaded a through ball into the path of Bamford. With only the 'keeper to beat the striker made no mistake and we had a mountain to climb to get anything out of the encounter.
Seven minutes later the hosts grabbed their fourth of the match and the result appeared beyond doubt. Leeds, brimming with confidence and belief, flooded forward. Bamford, who had been a threat throughout the match, burst down the left wing and played a perfect pass to Costa who smashed home his second of the afternoon.
On the hour mark Scott Parker made two changes. After a frustrating afternoon, Aboubakar Kamara and Josh Onomah made way for Neeskens Kebano and De Cordova-Reid, respectively.
When all seemed lost, Fulham sparked into life and in the 61st minute De Cordova-Reid pulled one back after a superb battling run from Anguissa. The powerhouse in the middle of the midfield played a nice pass to De Cordova-Reid who slotted home to give us hope.
With the small ember of hope burning lightly we continued to probe and press. An increased tempo and impetus from the two changes saw us continue to claw back into the encounter.
In the 66th minute, Mitrović and Tete, who had linked up perfectly at Ipswich Town, were at it again. Another picture perfect cross was met by Mitro and the imposing Serbian thundered a header home to pull us within one.
Hope oozing through the side now, Kebano struck the woodwork before Areola produced an excellent double save to keep the chance of snatching a point from the jaws of defeat alive.
The fightback fell just short as tired legs saw our push for an equaliser fail. We will be back in action in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night as we host Sheffield Wednesday.
Leeds XI: Meslier, Koch, Ayling, Cooper, Dallas, Klich, Phillips, Harrison, Costa, Moreno (Roberts), Bamford (Alioski).
Fulham XI: Areola, Bryan, Hector, Tete, Odoi, Onomah (De Cordova-Reid) , Reed (Lemina) , Zambo Anguissa, Cavaleiro, Kamara (Kebano) , Mitrović (c).