Mitrovic on target as a much-changed Fulham side knock Ipswich out of EFL Cup
BY DANIEL MARSH
Fulham eased their way into the third round of the EFL cup following a 1-0 win over League One side Ipswich Town.
A well-crafted headed goal by the returning Aleksandar Mitrovic was enough to set up a home tie with Sheffield Wednesday in the next round.
Scott Parker shuffled his deck for the short trip to Suffolk, making nine changes from the weekend’s defeat to Arsenal. New arrivals Alphonse Areola, Kenny Tete, Antonee Robinson and Mario Lemina were all selected for their maiden Fulham appearances.
The Whites saw the majority of the ball in the early stages, and they looked a constant threat in the opening period despite failing to hit the target as often as they should have done.
Anthony Knockaert tried three times to break the deadlock, but failed to work home goalkeeper David Cornell with any of his attempts from range. Zambo Anguissa had the pick of the other opportunities, but his outrageous long-range volley from a Knockaert corner whistled just wide.
Fulham eventually found their breakthrough just seven minutes before the break, with debutant Tete playing a starring role. Maxime Le Marchand did extremely well to keep his composure down by his own corner flag, before playing a superb diagonal ball to Tete. The Dutch right-back surged forward before floating across a perfect ball for Mitrovic to guide home.
The Whites went in search of a second after the interval, with both Robinson and Tete finding a lot of space out wide. Tete came close to assisting his second goal of the game, with another floated delivery finding Mitrovic. This time the skipper was denied by Cornell, who then somehow denied Neeskens Kebano on the rebound from point-blank range.
Fulham remained in control and continued to push for an elusive second goal, but failed to kill the game off. Tom Cairney came off the bench to sting the palms of Cornell from a short corner routine, before Kebano fizzed a dangerous free kick from 25 yards narrowly over.
Despite failing to find a second goal, Parker’s men were rarely troubled and were able to see the game out with ease to advance at Ipswich’s expense.
Everyone at the South London Press thanks you for your continued support.
Former Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has encouraged everyone in the country who can afford to do so to buy a newspaper, and told the Downing Street press briefing:
“A FREE COUNTRY NEEDS A FREE PRESS, AND THE NEWSPAPERS OF OUR COUNTRY ARE UNDER SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL PRESSURE”
If you can afford to do so, we would be so grateful if you can make a donation which will allow us to continue to bring stories to you, both in print and online. Or please make cheques payable to “MSI Media Limited” and send by post to South London Press, Unit 112, 160 Bromley Road, Catford, London SE6 2NZ
