Hull City vs Fulham. Sky Bet Championship.
MKM StadiumAttendance13,022.
Report and free match highlights from the Sky Bet Championship clash between Hull City and Fulham at the MKM Stadium as Aleksandar Mitrovic scored his 31st league goal of the season to equal Ivan Toney's record
Saturday 12 February 2022 18:28, UK
Fulham strengthened their position at the top of the Sky Bet Championship with a 1-0 win at Hull.
The visitors had to work hard against stubborn opponents but Aleksander Mitrovic's header after 57 minutes was enough to keep Marco Silva's men six points clear of second-placed Bournemouth.
Mitrovic had until that stage rarely been involved, but his 31st goal of the season - equalling Ivan Toney's Championship goalscoring record - off Neco Williams' excellent cross from the right underscored the difference in class between the two sides.
Fulham were arguably not at their free-flowing best, but former Hull manager Silva rarely had a moment of concern against determined, yet limited, rivals.
Hull have now lost three on the spin under new manager Shota Arveladze, whose side remain three places above the relegation zone.
In keeping with the flow of much of the game, Fulham began purposefully and soon quietened the home supporters with incisive football that suggested a quick goal was on the cards.
But despite their early domination, Silva's side surprisingly failed to create a chance on goal inside the first 15 minutes and having subdued Fulham's immediate blitz, Hull grew into the game.
Perhaps enthused by the visitors' uncharacteristic lack of attacking guile, the Tigers were guilty of over-committing players in the final third after 20 minutes.
A long ball over the top should have been easily dealt with but goalkeeper Matt Ingram was forced into a sliding challenge with Harry Wilson outside of his penalty area. Wilson, formerly on loan at Hull, was far too quick for Ingram but he fired over the crossbar when more composure was required.
The Wales international wasted an even better chance six minutes later when he surged towards goal following Mitrovic's deflected pass from deep.
Wilson should have passed to Neeskens Kebano across the face of goal but instead shot from a tricky angle, which was comfortably blocked by Ingram.
The former Liverpool winger then fired over the crossbar from a more difficult chance after good work from the outstanding Fabio Carvalho.
Hull, however, were not unduly troubled after a difficult start to the game and might even have opened the scoring five minutes before the break. A defensive mix-up towards the right of the penalty area led to the ball falling kindly towards Marcus Forss, who dragged wide from a decent position.
Fulham again started strongly after the interval, with Carvalho's curling swivel-and hit on 57 minutes capably pawed away by Ingram for a corner.
That near miss seemed to re-energise Fulham, who then kicked on.
And once Mitrovic netted with a textbook header, there felt no way back for Hull.
Silva reverted to a more defensive approach once the Serbia international scored the winning goal, which sucked the life out of the hosts.
Fulham goalkeeper Marek Rodak was not once tested all game, until Richie Smallwood let fly with a half-chance from distance that was easily saved after 85 minutes.
That was as good as it got for Hull as Silva enjoyed a relaxed return to East Yorkshire.
Hull's Shota Arveladze: "If we would have got a point I believe everyone in the ground would have said that we deserved it. They are the best team in the league. We tried to stop them and to defend as a team and attack as a team, which left me very happy. I'm proud of the boys and I have to give them a lot of credit. The fans have seen a good football game when both teams tried to play nice, attractive football. There's a lot to take from this performance.
"It's just about trying to keep things positive. We will look forward [to Tuesday's away game against Sheffield United] and look to deliver this same energy and positivity, which was good to see. I believe we played against a Premier League team, and that's not easy."
Fulham's Marco Silva: "We started really well and we pushed them back straight away - which was really important. I think we controlled most of the situations in the game. But after the first 15 minutes, the game became much more balanced. We changed some details at half-time, and then in the second half we started well again. We kept good aggression and that was one of the big things to see. I am really happy for the team. I'm really pleased for the players and the fans. It was a big win.
"It was a good finish from Mitro. He is a very important player for us. We were the best team on the pitch. We deserved all three points and deserved the victory. Now the players need to relax and enjoy some time with their families before
next Saturday.
"The conditions were not the best to play in the way that we want to play football. But we got through it and won the game, which was the main thing. Everyone was fighting for the ball and helping each other and that was one of the good things to see."
