Fulham come out on top in six-goal thriller against Burnley as Aleksandar Mitrovic hits double
Fulham 4-2 Burnley: The newly-promoted Londoners are up and running thanks to an exciting and memorable display at Craven Cottage
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Your support makes all the difference.This was not an afternoon Joe Hart will look back on with any great fondness, but for Fulham fans a first win back in the top flight will be remembered.
It was memorable for Aleksandar Mitrovic’s double of headed goals in the space of two first-half minutes, memorable for a superb display by Andre Schurrle and it was memorable because it was an exciting, open game of football.
Hart may not have been at fault for any of the goals but conceding three in 45 minutes and four in total is not the way to impress England manager Gareth Southgate as you desperately look to find a way back into the international fold.
Fulham manager Slavisa Jokanovic opted to drop his goalkeeper Fabri, bringing in Marcus Bettinelli for his Premier League debut in goal while Ryan Sessegnon was also dropped to the bench.
Burnley had the exertions of a trip to Greece in midweek, not arriving home until the early hours, but they selected the same side that lost to Watford in the league last weekend.
Fulham were first to threaten when Schurrle’s effort went wide from the right and that warning shot was not heeded as Fulham took a fourth-minute lead in stunning fashion, Jean Michael Seri’s superb 25-yarder finding the top corner.
This quickly became an open, attacking game on the wet, slick turf of Craven Cottage and Burnley levelled up on 10 minutes, Jeff Hendrick bundling home at the second attempt after his initial effort from Aaron Lennon’s cross was blocked by Denis Odoi.
Sean Dyche’s side suffered an early injury with Johann Berg Gudmundsson forced off and replaced by Charlie Taylor.
Chances continued with Schurrle shooting wide for Fulham after a driving run while the impressive German was then denied by a Joe Hart save following a low shot.
The hosts were keen to shoot where possible and Timothy Fosu-Mensah was the next to force the Burnley goalkeeper into a stop with a 20-yard attempt while Ben Mee nearly put the ball into his own net from Joe Bryan’s cross.
From the subsequent 36th-minute corner, Fulham regained the lead as Seri’s clever short pass found Tom Cairney who chipped a cross to the far post for Aleksandar Mitrovic to head home from close range.
Just two minutes later and the former Newcastle United striker did it again with another head from Luciano Vietto’s right-footed cross from the left.
The incredible half continued as Burnley drew themselves back into the game on 41 minutes as James Tarkowski found the back of the net, with a suspicion of offside, after Ben Mee had headed on Taylor’s corner.
After 15 minutes of calm for the interval, the game continued at quite a pace in the second half with Schurrle unfortunate to hit the crossbar from 25 yards with Hart beaten while the German saw another effort held by the goalkeeper.
How Schurrle had not scored by now is anyone’s guess and it was he who went close again as his effort was deflected wide.
Fulham continued to create chances with Kevin McDonald shooting over from a well-worked corner routine but they were still leaving some holes at the back to keep Burnley interested as Tarkowski headed over from Taylor’s free kick.
Mitrovic could not quite reach a Fosu-Mensah cross as he searched for his hat-trick while Schurrle was denied by a wonderful stop by Hart.
Mitrovic was desperately unlucky not to score that treble as his shot from inside the area was saved in wonderful fashion by Hart, pushing the ball onto the post, before Schurrle eventually scored the elusive goal his performance deserved.
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