By Owen Griffiths
ALEKSANDER Mitrovic became a record-breaker in south Wales as Fulham ruthlessly dispatched 10-man Swansea City.
Striker Mitrovic has now been directly involved in 42 goals this season, a higher number than any other player in the Championship since 2004.
The Serbian international, who bagged a hat-trick against the Swans in the reverse fixture in September, opened the scoring with his 35th goal of the season 30 seconds into the second-half, tapping home unmarked from six-yards.
By the then, however, the game’s turning point had been and gone.
In the 42nd minute Swansea’s Republic of Ireland international Ryan Manning was shown a red card for a late challenge on Fulham’s Harry Wilson – with replays showing the decision was probably justified.
After that, the home side had a mountain to climb against the runaway league leaders, and so it proved.
The visitors doubled their advantage after Fulham playmaker Harrison Reed’s pull-back was put into his own net by Swansea’s Ben Cabango.
Bore da teulu Fulham! 👋#FFC pic.twitter.com/8I9AhVhnk4
— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) March 9, 2022
And Marco Silva’s men added a third through former Cardiff City loanee Bobby Decordova Reid’s controlled close-range finish.
Swansea pulled one back through talisman Joel Piroe, who scored his 16th goal of the campaign, glancing home from Jamie Patterson’s set play. But it was scant consolation.
Liverpool loanee Neco Williams added a fourth three minutes later, smashing home inside the area following a cluster of Fulham efforts to record his first senior goal of his relatively short career.
Williams, who has been outstanding for the Cottagers following his January arrival, then added insult to injury for the Swans with a goal of the season contender – a venomous volley over a helpless Andy Fisher into the top corner.
It could have been worse for the Swans with the Championship’s leading scorer spurning two gilt-edged opportunities in the first-half with both headed efforts failing to trouble Swans ‘keeper Andy Fisher.
The victory leaves Silva’s men in pole-position to land the Championship’s title with just 11 games left to play for the London-based outfit.
Swansea will rue the loss of Manning in a match which was finely balanced beforehand.