Cardiff City 0-1 Fulham

Fulham edged out another away win on Saturday afternoon, beating Cardiff City by a goal to nil.

In a tightly matched game it was the Whites who were superior in creating chances, with this coming to fruition with a first half goal for Aleksandar Mitrović which proved to be the game winning moment once again. 

Following a busy week of action there was room for rotation from Marco Silva. Harry Wilson, Nathaniel Chalobah and Joe Bryan came in from Wednesday’s Peterborough win, replacing Neeskens Kebano, Jean Michaël Seri and Antonee Robinson. Rodrigo Muniz also made a return to the bench after shaking off a recent knock.

Fulham made a bright start and had an early venture forward after a couple of minutes through Bryan. After some neat one touch one-twos down the middle our left-back found himself in the Cardiff box, but he was swarmed off the ball before he could find the final touch.

After 12 minutes came the first shot of the game as a result of some firm Fulham pressure. Neco Williams’ cross bounced off Fabio Carvalho in the box and fell invitingly to Harry Wilson, who did well to unleash a volley towards goal which had to be smartly saved by Smithies.

Seconds later and there was an even greater chance at the other end for Cardiff. After beating the offside trap with a long ball over the top, James Collins found himself one-on-one with Marek Rodák, but our keeper stood up bravely to keep it out.

Mitrović hadn’t seen much of the ball so far but was always one moment of magic away from conjuring a goal. Just after the half-an-hour mark he had a small sighter from a corner. Peeling off Aden Flint at the back post, our big man volleyed towards goal, but the connection wasn’t quite clean enough and it bounced through to the ‘keeper.

It wasn’t much longer until Mitro did have his goal, through a perfect corner routine fresh from Motspur Park. After the ball was worked between Harrison Reed, Bobby De Cordova-Reid and Wilson, the latter managed to swirl a delightful cross in from the right to the back post, where our talisman was waiting patiently. His guided header back across goal nestled into the net for his 34^th goal of the season.

Cardiff started the second half strongly in the search for a leveler. Rubin Colwill had a sniff after a whipped ball in from the left, but Tim Ream was there to quash any danger and clear.

The Whites responded well though and went on a few attacks of their own soon after. The best of the bunch came on 52 minutes through the link-up down the right between the Welshmen Wilson and Williams. After the right back was played through by his counterpart he raced to the byline before blasting in a cross which seemed to strike a hand, but nothing was given despite strong Fulham appeals.

Silva’s side were doing everything they could now for a second goal, and almost had it after an hour played. Mitrović was much more involved with things now and with good effect, partnering up with Carvalho to burst through the middle and see a shot blocked, before his header from De Cordova-Reid’s cross landed on the roof of the net.

Up the other end the Bluebirds kept going in their quest for a goal too, with Tosin being well alert to slide clear a threatening cross from Tommy Doyle, before a barrage of corners had to be scrapped clear.

Doyle’s freekick after 66 minutes got sections of the home crowd excited as it arrowed narrowly over Rodák’s bar from 25 yards.

With just under 15 minutes to play the hosts had another chance to make it one-a-piece when a curling ball from the right found substitute Joel Bagan at the back post, but the angle was too tight for him to nod on target.

Marco Silva deployed a couple of changes for the closing stages, as Josh Onomah and Kenny Tete entered the field replacing Harrison Reed and Neco Williams.

Flint had a big chace late on as the ball dropped to him from a corner, but the towering centre-half couldn't keep his blasted effort down.

Fulham hung on to take another big three points as the push for promotion continues.