Phil SumblerAn Alexsander Mitrovic first half hat-trick undid the Swans at Craven Cottage as they fell to a 3-1 defeat with all the goals coming in the first half last night and leaving the Swans remaining close to the division’s bottom three.
BBC Sport – Mitrovic made it 10 goals in nine club games in 2021-22 as Fulham ruthlessly exposed Swansea’s deficiencies.
Marco Silva’s team eased to a first victory in three league outings despite Jamie Paterson pulling one back for a Swansea side who had their moments.
A first defeat in five second-tier games leaves the Welsh club in 19th.
Swansea passed the ball with purpose in spells, but defensive vulnerability was an issue from the outset and Fulham took advantage.
Harry Wilson had already seen a penalty appeal turned down by the time Mitrovic began leaving his imprint on the game.
Swansea half-cleared a Neeskens Kebano cross, but Tim Ream headed the ball back into the penalty area and Mitrovic turned Kyle Naughton before guiding a low shot beyond Ben Hamer.
The goal should have been ruled out as Mitrovic was half a yard offside, but there was nothing dubious about his second other than Swansea’s defending.
Ben Cabango’s pass was picked off by Joe Bryan, who sent Kebano surging down the left before the winger’s low cross was scuffed into the bottom corner by Mitrovic from close range.
There were further Fulham chances, with Mitrovic heading straight at Hamer and Bobby Decordova-Reid firing wastefully over, before Swansea pulled one back.
Joel Piroe’s measured through ball sent Paterson into space, and he coolly cut back onto his right foot to leave Denis Odoi and home keeper Paulo Gazzaniga helpless as he curled a shot inside the far post.
Yet Fulham swiftly re-established their two-goal advantage as a rapid counter-attack ended with Odoi crossing for Mitrovic to claim his third goal of the night – and his 52nd in 92 appearances at this level – with a clinical near-post finish.
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