Free-scoring Fulham crush Birmingham

Published on: 18 January 2022

Fabio Carvalho scored Fulham's 18th Championship goal inside a week before Antonee Robinson made it 19

Free-scoring Fulham extended their advantage at the top of the Championship to five points as they hit Birmingham City for six at Craven Cottage.

Blues defender Marc Roberts put through his own net before Fulham - who have now scored an incredible 19 goals in three league games - cantered to a 4-1 first-half lead.

Neeskens Kebano, Fabio Carvalho and Tom Cairney all struck in the space of eight minutes, only for Ivan Sunjic and Gary Gardner to halve the deficit either side of the break.

But teenager Carvalho scored the first double of his career to make it 5-2 before Antonee Robinson netted in added time to seal victory and condemn Birmingham to a sixth game without a win.

Fulham's last two games have now finished 6-2 following Saturday's victory over Bristol City, with Reading on the end of a 7-0 scoreline a week ago.

They are the first English side in 88 years to score six or more goals in three consecutive games, a feat last achieved by Chester City in the 1933-34 season.

Robinson's strike with virtually the last kick of the game was also their 70th Championship goal of the campaign.

    Relive Tuesday's EFL action as it happened

Surprisingly, Championship top scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic failed to add to his 27 goals this time around, although he played his part in Fulham's 10th-minute opener. The Serbia striker put Roberts under pressure as he lunged in before the defender sent Harry Wilson's cross over his own line.

Despite being utterly dominated in terms of possession, Blues kept their hosts at bay until the last 10 minutes of the first half, at which point the Fulham conveyor belt whirred into top gear again.

Kebano made it 2-0 on the run, slamming Denis Odoi's cross into the roof of the net and Robinson supplied the assist from the opposite flank for 19-year-old Carvalho to direct his header into the far corner two minutes later.

The two previous scorers then combined to set up Cairney for the home side's fourth goal, a low drive that flew in off the post.

However, Birmingham responded on the stroke of half-time, with Sunjic collecting Jeremie Bela's pass and unleashing a thunderous finish beyond the outstretched arm of Marek Rodak.

That seemed to inspire the visitors and they began the second half brightly, with Lukas Jutkiewicz testing Rodak before Kristian Pedersen teed up Gardner to drill into the bottom corner from 25 yards.

If that had given Birmingham a glimmer of hope, it was extinguished just a minute later by Carvalho, who galloped inside onto Bobby Decordova-Reid's pass and buried it beyond Neil Etheridge.

At the other end, Rodak tipped over Ryan Woods's effort to deny Birmingham a late consolation and Fulham had the final word as Robinson lashed home their sixth from the edge of the box with just seconds remaining.

Birmingham manager Lee Bowyer told BBC WM 95.6:

"We didn't do too much wrong and then they go 'bang, goal'. You can't stop the power, the strength, the quality they have.

"They're quality all over the pitch, they're a different animal to us and everything they do is with a purpose. We're a hard working team and no matter how hard the players tried, they still couldn't get close to them.

"We kept Mitrovic quiet but they've got so many players all over the pitch - the left-back's come and screamed one in from 25 yards.

"It's a tough night and we have to put that behind us."

    Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text

Line-upsFulham

Formation 4-2-3-1

1Rodák4Odoi16Tosin13Ream33Robinson10Cairney6Reed8Wilson28Carvalho7Kebano9Mitrovic

    1Rodák4Odoi16Tosin13Ream33Robinson10CairneySubstituted forChalobahat 69'minutes6ReedBooked at 67minsSubstituted forOnomahat 81'minutes8Wilson28Carvalho7KebanoSubstituted forDe Cordova-Reidat 68'minutes9Mitrovic

Substitutes

    2Tete12Chalobah14De Cordova-Reid19Muniz Carvalho21Gazzaniga25Onomah26Mawson

Birmingham

Formation 5-3-2

1Etheridge2Colin18Mengi4Roberts3Pedersen11Bela20Gardner6Woods34Sunjic10Jutkiewicz25Hernández

    1Etheridge2Colin18Mengi4RobertsSubstituted forFriendat 64'minutes3PedersenBooked at 52mins11Bela20Gardner6Woods34Sunjic10JutkiewiczSubstituted forHoganat 64'minutes25HernándezSubstituted forJamesat 82'minutes

Substitutes

    5Friend9Hogan19James27Trueman39Bellingham45Masampu53Campbell

Referee:Gavin WardAttendance:16,491Match StatsHome TeamFulhamAway TeamBirminghamPossessionHome62%Away38%ShotsHome15Away14Shots on TargetHome11Away6CornersHome6Away5FoulsHome7Away10Live TextPost update

Match ends, Fulham 6, Birmingham City 2.

90'+4'Full Time

Second Half ends, Fulham 6, Birmingham City 2.

90'+3'goalGoal!

Goal! Fulham 6, Birmingham City 2. Antonee Robinson (Fulham) left footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Josh Onomah.

90'+3'Post update

Josh Onomah (Fulham) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

90'+3'Post update

Foul by George Friend (Birmingham City).

90'+1'Post update

Corner, Birmingham City. Conceded by Marek Rodák.

90'+1'Post update

Attempt saved. Ryan Woods (Birmingham City) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Kristian Pedersen.

90'+1'Post update

Attempt blocked. Jordan James (Birmingham City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jérémie Bela.

87'Post update

Attempt saved. Scott Hogan (Birmingham City) right footed shot from very close range is saved in the centre of the goal.

87'Post update

Attempt blocked. Jordan James (Birmingham City) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jérémie Bela.

84'Post update

Tosin Adarabioyo (Fulham) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

84'Post update

Foul by Scott Hogan (Birmingham City).

83'Post update

Attempt saved. Josh Onomah (Fulham) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Harry Wilson.

82'Substitution

Substitution, Birmingham City. Jordan James replaces Onel Hernández.

81'Substitution

Substitution, Fulham. Josh Onomah replaces Harrison Reed.

75'goalGoal!

Goal! Fulham 5, Birmingham City 2. Fabio Carvalho (Fulham) right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Bobby De Cordova-Reid.

75'Post update

Attempt saved. Aleksandar Mitrovic (Fulham) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Harrison Reed.

74'goalGoal!

Goal! Fulham 4, Birmingham City 2. Gary Gardner (Birmingham City) right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Kristian Pedersen.

73'Post update

Attempt blocked. Ryan Woods (Birmingham City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Onel Hernández.

69'Post update

Foul by Denis Odoi (Fulham).

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Source: bbc.com

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