Aleksandar Mitrovic – I Love Fulham

Mitrovicheaps praise on Fulham captain after brace against Reading

Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic has heaped praise on club-captain Tom Cairney, who has found his goalscoring boots this term. The Scotland international had a forgettable stint in the Premier League last season with just one goal but he has found his scoring touch on the club’s return to the second tier.

Cairney has scored four goals from the past three appearances for the club and he recently bagged a brace against Reading which included a stunning 25-yard strike. Speaking to reporters, Mitrovic said that Cairney is a great player and scorer, but he was hesitant to shoot on goal when the Cottagers were in the Premier League.

Scott Parker coy about permanent Fulham managerial role

Fulham manager Scott Parker has remained coy over the possibility of becoming the permanent manager of the Cottagers. The 38-year-old was unable to prevent the Cottagers from relegation after being handed with the interim role in February, but the club have recently shown promise with three Premier League victories on the bounce.

Speaking after the 1-0 triumph over Cardiff, Parker refused to rule out the permanent managerial post but suggested that the focus remains on ending the season on a good note, he said: “From the outset, all I can do is what’s in my control, and that’s setting up the team to try to win games and be organised.”

Scott Parker coy about permanent Fulham managerial role

“We’re doing that and the players have been different class to me and how we’re trying to do things – and we’re enjoying things at the moment. We said before the game we’d have to build and we needed to make sure it didn’t go into a lull, and we were playing against a really disciplined side. In the end it was a wonder-strike to win us the game.”

Fulham squandered two chances to score through Aleksandar Mitrovic against the Bluebirds and it appeared that they could settle for a goalless stalemate before Ryan Babel’s wonder-goal. With the result, they have moved up to 27 points for the campaign and one-third of the tally has resulted from the eight matches where Parker has been at the helm.

Meanwhile, the result has put Cardiff’s Premier League status under jeopardy and they could find themselves relegated during the forthcoming gameweek. The Welsh outfit are currently four points behind 17th-placed Brighton & Hove Albion with an inferior goal difference, and their prospects of survival are dependent on winning the remaining two games whilst hoping that Brighton don’t pick any more points. The same, however, remains difficult, considering they are scheduled to face Crystal Palace and Manchester United before the season close.

Claudio Ranieri pleased with Fulham’s triumph over Southampton

Claudio Ranieri has expressed his pleasure after Fulham registered a much-needed win against Southampton during his first match in charge of the club. The Italian tactician was appointed as the new Cottagers boss during the international break after his predecessor Slavisa Jokanovic had gone six league matches without picking up a single point.

Speaking after the 3-2 triumph over Southampton, Ranieri said: “I am very pleased. First match and first victory. It is a little step but an important step for everybody. It was important we made a good solution and good mistakes. We had to work hard. It could have been more for us or for them. When we went down I said I wanted to see how we created and that was very good. Amazing. It is OK. This is the spirit that I like.”

Claudio Ranieri pleased with Fulham’s triumph over Southampton

Stuart Armstrong put the pressure on Fulham early on by grabbing the opening goal but the Cottagers came back with Aleksandar Mitrovic and Andre Schurrle finding the scoresheet. In the second period, Armstrong once more levelled the scores at 2-2 but Mitrovic came with the match-winning strike after the hour mark to ensure the hosts came up with the maximum points.
“With the result, Fulham have jumped just one position into the 19th spot but they could be leapfrogged by Huddersfield Town“, should they register a point during their visit to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday. Meanwhile, Ranieri is understood to have already received the backing to improve the defence “during the winter period“ and reports indicate that Dedryck Boyata could emerge as the prime target.

The Belgium international was denied a move to Craven Cottage from Celtic last summer but the London outfit are expected to make a fresh approach at the turn of the year where the defender would only have six months remaining on his Hoops contract.

Jamie Redknapp urges Chelsea to sign Fulham striker

Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp believes Chelsea should make the attempt to prise away Aleksandar Mitrovic from Fulham during the forthcoming transfer window. The Serbia international has been in impressive form since joining the Cottagers on a permanent basis this term and he has already bagged his fifth Premier League goal of the campaign.

Speaking to Sky Sports News, Redknapp was impressed with the way the Serbian led the line against the Hornets and believes he would be the perfect fit for the Blues, who are struggling to find goals from their marksmen, he said: “He was brilliant leading the line for Fulham against Watford. Gone is the loose cannon who looked like a walking red card when he was at Newcastle.

Jamie Redknapp urges Chelsea to sign Fulham striker

“He has done a lot of growing up in the last three years. Mitrovic is as strong as an ox, brings people into play and is using his aggression in the right way. Mitrovic is more physical than Alvaro Morata and has more pace than Olivier Giroud. As a successor to Didier Drogba and Diego Costa, Mitrovic could fit the bill.”

“Fulham have made a slow start to the proceedings with just five points from their opening six Premier League “ games but they have largely Mitrovic to thank for the same with their defence being among the worst in the division. Meanwhile, Chelsea“have been a quite “stunning start under the tutelage of Maurizio Sarri and they are already up to 16 points after six games played.

Nonetheless, they have been largely dependent on Eden Hazard to find the scoresheet with both Alvaro Morata and Olivier Giroud finding the scoresheet once between themselves. Because of this, the west London giants have been widely fancied to pursue a new centre-forward at the turn of the year and it remains to be seen whether they would consider a move for Mitrovic, who has already netted 17 goals for the Cottagers in the calendar year. Mitrovic spent a short-term loan with Fulham during the backend of the previous season where he contributed 12 goals en route to their top-flight promotion.