Fulham 3-0 Stoke

Fulham went into the international break with our unbeaten record intact courtesy of a 3-0 victory over Stoke City on Saturday afternoon.

Both teams started the game on 10 points, but the Whites put in a dominant display from start to finish.

Harry Wilson marked his return to action with a swift opener, and Bobby De Cordova-Reid doubled the advantage early in the second half.

Aleksandar Mitrović then wrapped things up, and could have had another only to see his stoppage time penalty saved.

There were three changes to the side that defeated Hull City at the Cottage a week earlier. Kenny Tete’s hamstring injury meant Denis Odoi kept his place from the midweek cup victory, while Wilson – returning from suspension – and De Cordova-Reid were the preferred wide options.

Odoi got into the thick of things in the early stages of his first league appearance of the season, winning a corner and then getting on the end of Jean Michaël Seri’s subsequent disguised delivery, only to see his header blocked.

We only had to wait two more minutes for the opener, though, and it was another restored individual who grabbed it. Smart forward play saw Wilson play De Cordova-Reid in down the left who fed Mitrović. The big man held off his marker to cushion the ball to Wilson who continued his run and finished the move off perfectly with a low strike off the outside of his left boot.

The football in the final third was delightful and another passage full of flicks and quick passes in the 17^th minute ended with De Cordova-Reid taking aim. His shot was venomous but didn’t quite drop in time to hit the target.

Seri then drew a first save of the game from Josef Bursik when he pearled one inside the post from 25 yards that the Potters ‘keeper pushed behind at full stretch.

The Whites almost capitalised from the corner, but Mitrović and Tosin’s efforts were blocked, before Odoi scooper the loose ball over while off balance.

Stoke hadn’t offered much of a threat going forwards but there was a hairy moment on the half hour mark when they burst forward and Josh Tymon was presented with a sight of goal. Thankfully Paulo Gazzaniga was on hand to make a comfortable save.

Carvalho then created an opening that was all his own doing. He was in the Fulham half when he dispossessed centre-back Leo Ostigard, and then danced his way to the edge of the box. Having crafted it all himself you can forgive him for ignoring the pleas of Mitrović and De Cordova-Reid for a pass, and his shot drew another good stop from Bursik.

Keeping up the pressure, Tosin has Bursik scrambling seconds later when he sent in a dipping volley from 30 yards that just cleared the bar.

Fulham were awarded a wide free-kick when Ben Wilmot went in high and late on Odoi, a challenge for which he somehow avoided a booking. Wilson sent the free-kick to the far post where Mitrović was able to nod back, but Tim Ream could only send the ball over as he ran into it at full pelt.

Wilmot’s reprieve was short lived, as he was swiftly shown a yellow card for another late challenge, this time on Josh Onomah.

A second goal before the break would have been deserved and it almost came when Antonee Robinson was slipped in, but Bursik was out fast to slap the ball from off his toes, while Mitrović volleyed a snapshot wide moments later.

Bursik was keeping his side in it, most recently when he demonstrated wonderful reflexes to palm over Tosin’s header on the stroke of half-time.

We didn’t score as quickly in the second half as we did in the first, but there wasn’t much in it! Fewer than eight minutes had been played when De Cordova-Reid’s reverse pass sent Mitrović in. He spun his man but saw his shot parried by Bursik – and De Cordova-Reid was there to gobble up his first of the season.

Stoke brought on Sam Surridge to try a different option up top, and it didn’t take him long to bring a smart low save from Gazzaniga at his near post.

Wilson had the chance to wrap things up midway through the half when both the timing of his run and weight of Onomah’s through pass were perfect, but his rolled finish hit the wrong side of the post.

Having teed up the first two, it was only right that Mitrović got himself on the scoresheet, something he duly achieved in the 72^nd minute. De Cordova-Reid sent in a deep cross to Wilson who knocked it square to Mitrović for a tap-in. A decent couple of days for the big man following his new contract on Friday.

The Potters did have a chance of reducing the deficit when substitute Alfie Doughty’s cross evaded everyone until it reach Tymon at the back stick, but it took the wing-back by surprise and his effort proved harmless.

Neeskens Kebano was sent on for Wilson in the closing stages and he made his presence felt in stoppage time, beating Bursik to Onomah’s bending ball and drawing the foul. Unfortunately, the goalkeeper redeemed himself by denying Mitrović from 12 yards and keeping the score at three.