Sheffield Wednesday vs Fulham. Sky Bet Championship.
HillsboroughAttendance25,653.
Saturday 7 April 2018 18:55, UK
Aleksandar Mitrovic fired Fulham to a priceless three points as their automatic promotion hopes were boosted by a 1-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough.
Second-placed Cardiff lost to Wolves on Friday night and Fulham now sit just two points behind the Bluebirds in the Sky Bet Championship.
Mitrovic struck the only goal of the game in the 78th minute when he seized on good work from Ryan Sessegnon to break the deadlock.
Fulham thought they had taken a 10th-minute lead when Sheyi Ojo turned in Kevin McDonald's cross, only for the winger to be flagged offside.
Ojo was soon in again. He wriggled his way into the box and cut inside onto his left foot. However, his shot was not powerful enough to trouble Joe Wildsmith, who got down and held comfortably.
McDonald then took aim from just inside the penalty area, aiming towards the bottom corner, but Wildsmith got down well to push it away.
Half an hour in and Fulham full-back Matt Targett sent a great low ball across the face of goal towards Mitrovic, however the striker's touch was not enough to guide the ball on target, going narrowly wide of the post.
The Owls had carried little threat and were soon to be frustrated. After a throw-in, Daniel Pudil was sent free down the left and sent a low cross to Lucas Joao who finished with a cheeky backheel. However, Pudil had long since been flagged for offside.
Near the end of the first half, Fulham missed a golden opportunity to snatch the lead. Ryan Fredricks aimed a great looping cross into Mitrovic and the big Serbian rose the highest, aiming a powerful header on goal, only to be denied by a brilliant save by Wildsmith who turned the ball over the bar.
Just past the hour mark, Wednesday centre-half Frederico Venancio thought he had a golden chance to snatch the lead. A free-kick was nodded onto his feet five yards from goal, but Venancio scuffed the ball wide, his blushes saved by the offside flag.
At the other end another opportunity was wasted. Tom Cairney pulled the ball across to McDonald just inside the box but the midfielder skied his first-time effort.
Fulham finally took the lead through Mitrovic. Teenager Sessegnon burst into the box from the left and threaded a perfect ball across to Mitrovic who calmly slotted home his ninth goal of the season.
Fulham missed an opportunity for a second goal soon afterwards. A superb long ball from Targett found substitute Neeskens Kebano, however he guided the ball wide of the post.
Wednesday had one last chance deep into injury time when Pudil pulled the ball across to substitute Fernando Forestieri, however he could not keep his shot down.
Jos Luhukay: "From the result it's disappointing, but I think in the first half we've come to some situations that we've created some chances, although coming to the last ball it was not always in the right direction.
"In the second half, no control, we were only defending, and Fulham were a lot stronger than we were, they had more chances aside from their goal, they could have scored three or four times."
Slavisa Jokanovic: "It's very important. It's a crucial moment in the Championship as we're in the last few games. We try to put the team ahead of us under pressure and it's important not to give up and keep going forward and be ready for the next step.
"We created many chances, we had 20 shots, our defensive line is working very well. We didn't give Wednesday any chances to score goals. At the end of the game they had one situation which was dangerous for us. We're in a good moment, we trust each other and it is a very good moment for us. It's important for us to relax, rest and try to prepare for the match against Reading."
