ALEKSANDAR MITROVIC’S 38th goal of the season moved leaders Fulham 17 points clear of the Sky Bet Championship’s play-off zone as they claimed a 1-0 win at Middlesbrough.
The Cottagers, on course for an immediate return to the Premier League, secured yet another victory, with Marco Silva’s men now 11 points clear of second-placed Bournemouth.
The Serbian’s header with 17 minutes remaining proved enough to knock Boro out of the top six.
Middlesbrough, who announced during the half-time break that the “people of Teesside” had donated £225,000 to help those in need in Ukraine courtesy of the club’s share of the gate receipts for the recent FA Cup tie against Chelsea, sit two points shy of Sheffield United and Nottingham Forest above them.
With Boro looking for a Riverside record ninth straight home win to climb up to fifth, it was a blow that highly-rated winger Isaiah Jones was missing.
It was always going to be a tough challenge for the home side to achieve that target against a team charging towards the top flight, but that did not stop them from looking to create.
Even though Middlesbrough had plenty of the ball in the early exchanges, Fulham’s quality in possession and ability to use the width of the pitch gave Chris Wilder’s men plenty to think about from the off.
Had it not been for a tame finish from Mitrovic following a Jonny Howson error, or some fine defending by Anfernee Dijksteel to thwart Fabio Carvalho, the leaders might have been ahead.
And with 23 minutes on the clock Mitrovic had the first clear-cut chance after Fulham turned defence into attack, with a hint of controversy too.
When Matt Crooks dived in to Harrison Reed in the Fulham half, the latter rolled around in agony while visiting boss Silva questioned why there was no foul and Middlesbrough played on.
After the Boro attack broke down, Reed hopped to his feet and ended up crossing into the area for Mitrovic to head low and goalkeeper Joe Lumley gathered.
Middlesbrough responded and a quick counter-attack ended with Howson curling from distance into the arms of goalkeeper Marek Rodak.
Shortly afterwards, Crooks’ first-time effort from Marcus Tavernier’s cross looked like testing Rodak but Tim Ream’s boot managed to direct the ball over the crossbar for a corner.
After the break, Fulham were quickest out of the blocks and Bobby Decordova-Reid came within inches of opening the scoring when his outstretched boot turned Kenny Tete’s low delivery wide of the far post.
But as the rain poured down at the Riverside, the noise levels lifted when Andraz Sporar forced Rodak into a fine stop down to his right on the hour.
Then in the 73rd minute, the prolific Mitrovic headed Fulham in front with a fine glancing header from Harry Wilson’s free-kick after Crooks had conceded a free-kick.
There was still time for substitute Josh Coburn to head inches wide from Marc Bola’s cross and Duncan Watmore to fire over from close range for Middlesbrough during a frantic finale.
Elsewhere, Bournemouth’s charge to automatic promotion from the Sky Bet Championship suffered a jolt with a surprise 2-0 defeat at West Brom.
Scott Parker’s side never recovered from a case of the defensive jitters which gifted early goals for Alex Mowatt and Andy Carroll and ended the Cherries’ five-match unbeaten run.
Finally, Nottingham Forest battled to a fourth consecutive Sky Bet Championship win and climbed into the play-off places with a 2-0 victory over Coventry at the City Ground.
Steve Cooper’s side had to work hard for their win but Brennan Johnson’s 15th goal of the season and a well-taken strike from James Garner, either side of half-time, put them on course for a precious three points.
Amidst all the complaints about traffic etc on Sunday, I’m genuinely excited to see a state of the art, modern GAA venue this weekend. Looks fantastic.
@Marcas Ó Callanáin: Having said that, those seats in the North Stand at the Blackrock End look to have their views severely obscured…?
@Marcas Ó Callanáin: trying to put negativity aside it’s very hard to call this a state of the art modern stadium. It has one new stand that is modern but basic by international standards. The rest is a concrete bowel with no facilities that was designed in 1976 and rebuilt identically. Half the stadium is terraced. It’s new but that’s about it.
@Marcas Ó Callanáin: Great views from all around especially the North stand. Found it better sheltered and gave an overall better view
I think it looks fantastic. The floodlight design and seat colouring look a bit like London Olympic stadium. Look forward to seeing the game at the weekend.
@Evan Geoghegan: a boy kev nev
Be nice when you buy a stand ticket on a wet day only to get soaked because there are no sides on the stands.
@Ruairi O’Bric: must be awful to be so miserable about life Ruairi.
They have done a very nice job.
@MK76: how is pointing out the obvious being miserable?
@Ruairi O’Bric: Passive aggressive then. Either way, you’re hardly a beacon of sunshine and light.
@Ruairi O’Bric: Rain, poor you, wear a jacket
Could have made it new and modern but made it pretty standard
I think the stadium looks bang average. Design isn’t very modern and you still have 2 uncovered ends. What is it with Ireland and the way we design and build stadia. Did I read it cost €80 million?
Lack of big screen seems an over sight
@Pádraic Ó Maoláin: well they went €16million over budget without including the Astro pitch scope so they hardly had room for luxuries like a large tv! “Sure what would they want that for when de game is right of front of them huh”
@Leo Erah: That’s nonsense. The whole thing is new. Not just one stand. Bizarre statement.
@Kieran Lynch: the design is anything but new. No imagination at all. Two uncovered 70s style terraces. One stand double the size of the other. For the money they spent they could have had a fully enclosed stadium, with covered terracing.
@Pa Burke: It’s still a new stadium though. Design issues is another argument.
@Pa Burke: It’s still pretty cool all the same.
@Kieran Lynch: it is what it is. It’s a damn sight better than as lot of other county grounds, but for me, after spending 80m it’s disappointing.
@Pa Burke:”For the money they spent they could have had a fully enclosed stadium with covered terracing” And where would they have got that Pa?? Woodies DIY :-).I have not seen it yet but their seems to be alot of negativity around, and not quite sure if it is towards the stadium, the County board, or Cork in general?.Right or wrong it is their to stay and the most important thing now, is we keep producing quality young hurlers and footballers to play in it for years to come.
@Kieran Lynch: the stadium was rebuilt from scratch so it is new, I never said otherwise. Unfortunately 3 of the 4 stands were rebuilt identically to the design from 1976. A 40 year old design. There is a new 40m stand that by modern standards is plain and the rest of the stadium is as you were except for a bit of roof on the north stand. The whole thing is a travesty and an example of how not to rebuild a stadium.
@John Carroll: I never mentioned the board or cork in general. The design of the stadium is embarrassinly Irish. The fact that Cork will be playing in a 70s style stadium for another 40 years is depressing.
https://ewanmackenna.wordpress.com/2015/04/23/grounds-for-concern/
@Pa Burke: Not a prayer for 80 million. Stadium you are shopping for would cost 3 or 4 times that.
A crowd of 10,000 turned up… for the first 10 minutes
Nice evening and a very good first half of hurling. (Apparently). View from both sides is good, plenty of space between seats and upper tier is not crazy Croke Park high. Pitch looks good and approach concourse and 4 G pitch is impressive. The same issues persist though, no parking other than on street within 15 mins walk, difficult to get in to and away from. I don’t think there will be enough toilets to cater for large crowds and few food options. If you get there, you will have a grand view, the location is still the biggest issue though.
@DJ Cronin: apparently a new traffic management system is being introduced because it was a part of the planning permission. The black ash park and ride is being mooted with gaa buses to the stadium. Will be some laugh trying to get the old school cork GAA clowns to buy into that one.
Agree also on the facilities comment but really what did people expect, most of the stadium bar he new stand is the same as pre upgrade and has no food/bar facilities. This is nothing like thomond/crowe park/aviva etc.
@Leo Erah: traffic management? We don’t need no steenking traffic management
@Leo Erah: 13 bars in fact.