Fulham 2-0 Hull City

Hull City were beaten 2-0 by Fulham at Craven Cottage on Saturday. Both goals came during the first half as the home side took charge, Aleksandar Mitrovic and Fabio Carvalho doing the damage.

Grant McCann made just one change to his starting line-up following the midweek defeat to Derby County. Alfie Jones, who had been a doubt in the build-up, did indeed end up missing out and his centre-back position was taken by Di’Shon Bernard who came in to make his first league appearance for the Club. Sean McLoughlin provided central defensive cover on the bench.

Heavy rain pre-kick-off made for a slick playing surface and there was some early defending to do for the visitors to do as Antonee Robinson’s low cross skipped across the six-yard box, Jacob Greaves making an important intervention.

Robinson’s bursts down the left were a feature of Fulham’s early play, but it was the Tigers that had the first decent attempt on goal as Greg Docherty’s 25-yarder warmed the palms of goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga.

Josh Magennis then saw his header saved by Gazzaniga at the end of a promising move by McCann’s men that had seen Randell Williams get in down the right.

However, it was Fulham that took the lead midway through the half when Mitrovic escaped his marker Greaves to head in from a corner, although replays showed that Greaves appeared to be blocked off by another Fulham attacker which went unseen by the officials.

Keane Lewis-Potter curled an effort wide after cutting in from the left as the visitors looked to respond, but it would soon be 2-0 as the home side’s lead was doubled on 34 minutes. Carvalho managed to control Robinson’s low cross inside the box before finishing past Ingram.

Ivan Cavaleiro missed a chance to add a third when slicing wide of the near post, while Ingram had to get down well to keep out a powerful low drive from Tosin Adarabioyo and then a deflected effort from Mitrovic.

A change at halftime saw Josh Emmanuel replace Williams, with Emmanuel playing on the right side of the attack.

There were some moments of hope early in the second half with some positive running from Docherty and Callum Elder deep in Fulham territory but neither attack brought an attempt at goal.

Mitrovic headed Fulham’s first chance of the second half inches wide while Ingram made a good save from Jean Michael Seri’s long-range drive.

A second change saw Tom Eaves replace Richie Smallwood, while Andy Cannon also came on for Docherty late on, but there would be no way back into the game for the visitors.

Report by: Tom Haymes of Hull City OSC.

Fulham: Paulo Gazzaniga, Kenny Tete (Bobby Decrodova-Reid 32), Tosin Adarabioyo, Tim Ream (Alfie Mawson 21), Antonee Robinson, Jean Michael Seri, Josh Onomah, Neeskens Kebano, Fabio Carvalho (A-Frank Anguissa 70), Ivan Cavaleiro, Aleksandar Mitrovic.
Subs Not Used: Marek Rodak, Joe Bryan, Tyrese Francois, Jay Stansfield.

Hull City: Matt Ingram; Lewie Coyle, Di’Shon Bernard, Jacob Greaves, Callum Elder; Richie Smallwood (C) (Tom Eaves 77), Greg Docherty (Andy Cannon 86), Matt Smith; Randell Williams (Josh Emmanuel 46), Keane Lewis-Potter, Josh Magennis.
Subs Not Used: Nathan Baxter, Sean McLoughlin, Tom Huddlestone, Will Jarvis.

Referee: Mr T. Robinson.