Fulham 2-0 Cardiff City

Tom Cairney marked his return to action with a stunning opening goal as Fulham defeated Cardiff City 2-0 on a sodden night at Craven Cottage.

It had been 10 months since we saw our Club Captain in action, and so it was a poignant moment when he volleyed in a brilliant goal after coming off the bench.

Aleksandar Mitrović then grabbed his 13th goal in as many games to wrap up the points for the Whites.

After picking up injuries here at the weekend, Joe Bryan and Ivan Cavaleiro were replaced by the same men who took their place, and scored, during the QPR win; Antonee Robinson and Bobby De Cordova-Reid.

And the latter almost had Fulham ahead within two minutes when he flicked just wide of the far post having been picked out by Harry Wilson following a smartly worked corner routine.

Harrison Reed then volleyed one a yard off target a minute later as we kept our foot on the gas in the opening stages.

Kieffer Moore was the focal point for the visitors and he soon gave a reminder of his ability, thumping a vicious shot against the angle of post and bar.

Fulham almost scored a brilliant opener on the quarter hour mark. Jean Michaël Seri’s sublime pass sent Wilson into the area, whose backheel was inviting for both Mitrović and Neeskens Kebano. It was the Congolese winger who got there first, but he could only drag his shot against the base of the post.

Straight up the other end, and Bluebirds midfielder Marlon Pack couldn’t have hit his first time strike much cleaner, but thankfully it did not dip in time to trouble Marek Rodák.

It was an entertaining contest, with both sides looking for goals, and Reed must have thought he’d got his first for the Club with a fine 20 yard strike, but Alex Smithies got across to make the save at full stretch.

Reed had not stopped running throughout the first half and so it was a blow when he had to be replaced at the break having picked up a knock. A huge silver lining came, though, in his replacement, as Cairney took to the field for the first time since December.

Fulham began the second period as we had the first, with De Cordova-Reid drilling in a dangerous shot from the edge of the box which was probably heading in until the intervention of centre-back Mark McGuinness.

The torrential rain was making for a sticky pitch but Fulham stuck to their principles, carving out another chance in the 54th minute when Mitrović headed Kebano’s inswinging cross into the arms of Smithies.

The City stopper’s next save a minute later was far less routine – reacting quickly to De Cordova-Reid’s bouncing effort after it zipped up off the soaked turf.

The opener wasn’t far off, and it came in fairytale fashion. After the ball got taken off Wilson’s toes at the end of a mazy run into the box, it dropped to Cairney who needed no invitation in lashing home a volley from just inside the box. The Cottage simply erupted, and it was beautiful to see TC celebrating with the Hammy End once again.

The floodgates were open in more ways than one. Soon after, Wilson pinched possession high up the pitch and fed De Cordova-Reid. A quick look up, and he crossed to Mitrović who swept home first time inside the near post.

Towels were very much needed but Cardiff, to their credit, were not throwing theirs in. Aden Flint should have done much better than blazing miles over when the ball dropped to him unmarked in the box.

Wilson had been brilliant all evening and deserved a goal, but he just snatched at his volley when the ball dropped his way with five minutes to play, and it sailed wide.

Rodák had not had a particularly busy evening but he needed to be alert with two minutes to go when he brilliantly tipped over Moore’s rising strike. The save was all the more impressive considering the deflection it took on its way through.

Jay Stansfield came on at the death and created a couple of openings for Kebano and Denis Odoi, but a third goal proved out of reach.

The rain had mainly subsided by this point, meaning the lads could celebrate with the fans in slightly more comfortable conditions at the end of a good night’s work.