By Jack Pooley

Another goal for Aleksandar Mitrović was enough to take all three points back home from Hull on Saturday afternoon at the MKM Stadium.

After a frustrating first half, Neco Williams conjured a magical cross to the head of our big man just before the hour mark to keep the unbeaten league form going.

After Tuesday night’s triumph over Millwall last time out, Marco Silva named an unchanged XI at the MKM to take on the Tigers. There was one swap on the bench, as Joe Bryan came in for Ivan Cavaleiro.

Fulham started very much on the front foot, barely allowing their hosts a touch on the ball for the opening five minutes, knocking it around with swagger despite the damp conditions.

On 10 minutes came the first proper sighter of goal. After Neeskens Kebano’s cross from the left was cushioned down expertly by Mitrović towards Tom Cairney, our skipper laced his shot over the bar under pressure.

Hull slowly grew into the game and had a chance to cause danger from a free kick after 13 minutes, but George Honeyman’s delivery went only as far as Harry Wilson, who defended the edge of the box well to clear.

Just before 20 minutes Wilson was in action again at the other end. After a delightfully floated ball through the middle from Tosin, our number eight plucked the ball out of the sky before rounding the onrushing Matt Ingram in the Hull City net. Unfortunately though, he had to go the long way round, taking him too far wide to squeeze his shot on target.

Neco Williams on the ball

Five minutes later and Wilson had another golden chance to give Fulham a deserved lead. After dropping deep to collect the ball, Mitrović drilled a ball down the middle to our Welsh winger, who was now bursting through alongside Fabio Carvalho with two defenders for company. He chose to shoot with his right after bearing down on goal, but there wasn’t enough power to beat the Tigers stopper.

A period of Hull possession came 10 minutes before the break as Fulham fought to get it clear following a free kick from the left. Once they did get rid though, another chance presented itself. Kebano showed plenty of pace and power down the flank to get beyond his marker, before knocking it inside to Carvalho. His flashed ball went all the way across goal and found Wilson, who could only scoop over from close.

The biggest Hull chance of the first half came from a slice of bad fortune against the Whites. Tim Ream’s attempted clearance cannoned off Antonee Robinson, invertedly putting it into the path of Marcus Forss, who couldn’t get his effort on target as Marek Rodák closed down.

We went into the interval goalless after a scrappy end to the first period.

Harry Wilson rounds the 'keeper

Silva’s side were straight out of the blocks for the second half as in the first, and were whiskers away from an opener moments in. Williams’ whipped cross was crying out for a Fulham boot to prod home, but neither Carvalho nor Kebano could quite muster the connection required.

It was the Tigers’ turn to venture forward next. Keane Lewis-Potter’s curling effort from the left had plenty of bite, needing a firm Rodák palm to divert.

Fulham finally made the breakthrough after 57 minutes through a familiar source. After some smart play down the right, Williams swung in the perfect ball for Mitrović to guide into the bottom corner with his head, and it was a Championship record-equaling 31st goal of the season for our big Serbian.

Aleksandar Mitrović bags goal number 31 of the season

With five minutes left on the clock, the Tigers managed a rare shot on goal as they attempted to draw things level, as Richard Smallwood's powerful blast from range had to be watched all the way by Rodák.

In the end, Fulham were able to close out professional display and take all three points back to SW6 as their impressive start to 2022 continues.

Hull: Ingram, Coyle, Greaves, Fleming, McLoughlin, Smallwood, Slater (Docherty 75'), Lewis-Potter, Longman (Moncur 80'), Forss (Tyler Smith 72'), Honeyman

Subs: Elder, Docherty, Moncur, Bernard, Cartwright, Jones, Tyler Smith

Fulham FC: Rodák, Williams, Ream, Antonee Robinson, Adarabioyo, Kebano, Carvalho, Cairney (Reed 76'), Wilson (De Cordova-Reid 76'), Chalobah, Aleksandar Mitrovic (Rodrigo Muniz 80')

Subs: Reed, Gazzaniga, Bryan, Seri, Hector, Rodrigo Muniz, De Cordova-Reid