Fulham 1-1 Watford match report: Mitrovic scores to get a point for Cottagers against Hornets
Aleksandar Mitrovic scored his fifth goal of the season as Fulham came from behind to grab a 1-1 draw with Watford at Craven Cottage.
The Serbia striker flicked home his fifth goal of the season with 12 minutes remaining to deny the visitors a fifth win from six Premier League games.
Andre Gray had opened the scoring inside two minutes but the Hornets had to settle for a point after spurning a number of chances to double their advantage.
Whites boss Slavisa Jokanovic, facing his former club for the first time since leaving Vicarage Road in 2015, almost saw his side snatch a late winner when Mitrovic's header was tipped on to the crossbar by Ben Foster.
Sloppy start for leaky Fulham
Fulham's defensive fragility was immediately exposed as they conceded for a 13th time this campaign.
Jose Holebas' throw-in caused indecision on the edge of the Whites' box and Gray latched on to Will Hughes' through-ball to calmly slot his third goal of the season past Marcus Bettinelli.
Hornets captain Troy Deeney then had a close-range attempt repelled by Bettinelli, while Fulham were lucky Christian Kabasele's goalbound diving header from a Holebas corner struck Ryan Sessegnon.
Gray should have doubled his tally when he fired straight at Bettinelli after Alfie Mawson made a mess of a long ball forward.
The home side could have been down to 10 men in the 32nd minute when Fosu-Mensah escaped with only a yellow card following a dangerous, studs-up challenge on Deeney.
Fulham's fortune appeared to continue. Defender Mawson, who had already been booked for a challenge on Roberto Pereyra, slid in on Hughes in the box without touching the ball but referee Martin Atkinson waved away the penalty appeals.
Half time changes do the trick for Fulham
Fulham fans' mood could have improved significantly four minutes into the second period but top scorer Mitrovic headed over after meeting Schurrle's right-wing cross.
Watford began to drop deeper and were struggling to retain possession, although they remained a threat going forward. Gray forced a low save out of Bettinelli, before Deeney poked wide after breaking into the box.
Fulham were heading for a fourth defeat of the campaign until Vietto beat Daryl Janmaat to the ball on the left and squared for Mitrovic to prod in at the near post.
The hosts nearly won it in the final minute of normal time but, after Mitrovic nodded powerfully towards goal, Foster's fingertips pushed the ball on to the bar.
Fulham v Watford Opta stats
- This was Fulham’s 500th match in the Premier League; the 15th team to reach the milestone in the competition.
- Watford became just the fifth team to start each of their first six games of a Premier League season with the same starting XI (also Leeds 92/93, Tottenham 94/95, Liverpool 96/97 and Aston Villa 08/09).
- Fulham have lost just one of their last 19 home league games, including play-offs (W14 D4).
- Watford are without a win on their last nine Premier League visits to London, with their draw against Fulham coming after eight consecutive defeats.
- Watford striker Andre Gray has netted four goals in his last three league games against Fulham.
- Gray’s strike for Watford, timed at one minute, 27 seconds was the quickest goal in the Premier League since March 10th 2018 (Kenedy for Newcastle v Southampton, 1:03)
- Gray's goal (1:27) was also Watford's second quickest goal in the Premier League after Etienne Capoue against Leicester in November 2016 (32 seconds).
- Since his debut for Fulham in February 2018, Aleksandar Mitrovic has scored 17 goals in English league football, more than any other player.
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