Fulham 3-0 Millwall

Aleksandar Mitrović made it 30 goals for the season with a brace in Fulham’s 3-0 win over Millwall on Tuesday evening.

Fulham’s number nine netted in either half, tucking home following good work from Neco Williams before taking advantage of a loose ball after Fabio Carvalho had seen a shot saved.

Substitute Bobby De Cordova-Reid then came off the bench to put the finishing touch to a lovely move up the pitch involving Mitrović, Harry Wilson and Carvalho.

Marco Silva made three changes from the XI that gave Manchester City a run for their money at the weekend, with Marek Rodák, Antonee Robinson and Tom Cairney returning to the lineup.

There was also a home debut for Williams, who needed just 10 minutes to get the crowd on their feet – his controlled strike from 25 yards bending just off target.

And it was the Liverpool loanee who created the opener. Overlapping his good mate Wilson who duly fed him, Williams got beyond his man to the byline and cut back to Mitrović who was never going to pass up the opportunity from close range.

A sumptuous second almost followed when Cairney’s intelligent flick set the ball up nicely for the lively Carvalho to hit, but Bartosz Bialkowski got down well to his effort from the edge of the box.

Fulham had further half chances to take a greater advantage into the break, but neither Tim Ream nor Cairney were able to find the target following good work by Neeskens Kebano on each occasion.

The daylight arrived within five minutes of the restart, though. Fulham navigated their way through a congested penalty area until Ream smashed a volley into Carvalho. The youngster then drew a terrific low save from Bialkowski, but he could only parry to Mitrović who lashed home goal number 30 for the season.

He went close to yet another hat-trick two minutes later, but couldn’t show the same control with his shot that he did for the footwork which created the opportunity.

Millwall threatened to half the deficit as we approached the hour mark, but Mason Bennett thumped his shot over the bar having been picked out by substitute Jed Wallace.

It had been a quiet evening for Marek Rodák but he was alert when called upon by Wallace, who drilled in a powerful strike that the Fulham number one got strong hands to. Bennett then sent the loose ball wide of the far post.

The away fans in the Putney End thought Benik Afobe had scored with 10 minutes to go when he poked a flick-on goalwards, but they hadn’t realised that a crucial touch from Rodák had sent it past the post and into the side-netting.

It was probably Millwall’s best spell of the game, but we soon quashed any notion of a comeback. A stunning first-time reverse Mitrović pass – similar to the one that set up our goal at the Etihad – sent Wilson scampering down the right. He cut back to Carvalho whose shot was turned in by De Cordova-Reid, having recently replaced Kebano.

Wilson almost added further gloss with a curling effort after cutting in. Bialkowski was beaten, but unfortunately so was the far post.

Following the full-time whistle there were some lovely scenes as Marco and his players went over to the Hammy End to embrace the Parish family. It was a result that hopefully Paul would have been proud of.