Fulham vs Barnsley. Sky Bet Championship.
Craven CottageAttendance18,047.
Report and highlights from the Sky Bet Championship clash between Fulham and Barnsley at Craven Cottage as goals from Aleksandar Mitrovic, Fabio Carvalho, Neeskens Kebano and Harry Wilson sealed victory for the Cottagers.
Saturday 20 November 2021 19:12, UK
Aleksandar Mitrovic's 21st goal of the season set Fulham on course for a 4-1 victory over Barnsley that moved Marco Silva's side to the top of the Championship table.
Silva's side eased their way to a seventh successive win with Fabio Carvalho and Neeskens Kebano on target before Harry Wilson wrapped up the win after substitute Victor Adeboyejo pulled one back for the struggling visitors.
New Barnsley head coach Poya Asbaghi watched from the stands before taking charge on Monday with interim boss Joseph Laumann overseeing matters from the dugout.
The former Sweden U21s boss briefly saw his side take the game to Fulham, with Romal Palmer's rising drive drawing a fine save from Marek Rodak.
But it was not long before the Cottagers began to hit their stride and they might have forced a 15th-minute lead had Mitrovic managed to connect with Kenny Tete's nod down.
And Fulham's aerial strength was again in evidence when Tim Ream met Tom Cairney's cross to set up the chance for Michael Hector to drill a low shot against a post.
The momentum had shifted in Fulham's favour and the breakthrough came in the 24th minute.
Tete - deputising for suspended right-back Denis Odoi - was again involved, delivering a telling cross from the right towards Mitrovic who proved too strong for Michal Helik as he outjumped the Barnsley centre-back and headed home.
The Tykes almost added to their own problems when Callum Styles' misplaced back-pass forced 'keeper Bradley Collins to clear off the line.
But Collins had no chance of preventing Fulham doubling their lead in the 34th minute through Carvalho.
The 19-year-old burst inside from the left and while he benefited from a slice of luck after attempting to exchange passes with Mitrovic, there was no doubting the youngster's finish.
Wilson might have added to the score before the break as Fulham became increasingly dominant.
And the pattern was maintained immediately after the interval when Cairney's shot was deflected against the bar and Mitrovic forced a good save from Collins.
But Fulham had to wait for the 72nd minute for the third goal when Kebano volleyed home from Wilson's cross.
And after Barnsley substitute Adeboyejo reduced the deficit in the 78th minute, following up after Cauley Woodrow's header struck a post, Wilson added Fulham's fourth three minutes later with a neat finish from Jean Michael Seri's lofted pass.
Fulham's Marco Silva: "Of course it's good to be top of the table. We started fantastic and were on the top and then when we stopped for the second international break I think we were fourth or fifth and no one talked about it. They just listened to what we should improve. And we didn't look to the table before this game. We want to look at the table before the last day of the competition.
"Of course we look, but it is not something that is something we talk about on a daily basis. But if you are getting the results and deserve it, it reflects on the table. It was fantastic performance from ourselves."
Barnsley's Joseph Laumann: "Fulham are hard for every team in the league. They are in my eyes the best footballing team. We have lots of games to come and I hope there is going to be some fresh start under the new manager and I truly believe we have the team and the quality to get out of the situation. A decision was made by the club, we introduced ourselves on a zoom call to get to know each other. We had a quick exchange before we left yesterday but he was not involved in any decisions today about the team or the formation.
"It is a challenge but I am quite confident that we can go forward as a team. When someone new comes in you always hope they will get something extra out of the team and the squad. There is a lack of confidence and I hope he can increase the belief but they are good characters and it has never been about a lack of belief."
