Match Report Fulham (1) 3-2 (0) Luton Town Championship MatchDay 13 19/20 at Craven Cottage Wednesday 23rd October 2019,    KO: 19:45 Referee: John Brooks (Leicestershire)

Fulham Striker Aleksandar Mitrovic

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Aleksandar Mitrovic's fantastic form in front of goal continued as the forward scored a hat-trick in Fulham's 3-2 win at home to Luton.

The Serbia striker, 25, took his tally to 11 goals in 13 games this term with his treble at Craven Cottage.

The former Newcastle player also has five international goals this season and has scored eight in his last five games for club and country.

Dan Potts and Kazenga LuaLua twice pulled Luton within a goal of their hosts, but they ultimately left empty-handed.

Fulham were on top from the off and defender Denis Odoi headed the game's first chance wide from Anthony Knockaert's free-kick.

Ivan Cavaleiro then fired at Hatters keeper James Shea, although Tim Ream's error at the back allowed Izzy Brown to set up Luton's first opportunity, which James Collins thumped wide from a tight angle.

Mitrovic showed how it should be done as Fulham took a 16th-minute lead. Cavaleiro provided the pass that allowed the Serbian to swivel and lash high beyond Shea from the edge of the box.

Shea was soon back in action, diving to keep out drives by Knockaert and then Mitrovic, whose bicycle kick moments later was too high.

Match Stats	Fulham	Luton Town
Goals	(1) 3	2 (0)
Scorers	Mitrovic 16	Potts 60
	Mitrovic 53	LuaLua 90'+3
	Mitrovic 67
,
Goal attempts	20	13
On target	8	3
Shooting Accuracy	40%	23%
Possession	65%	35%
Passes	593	302
Passes Success	86%	71%
Crosses	14	15
Crosses Success	29%	33%
Corners	4	3
Tackles	19	17
Tackles Success	63%	53%
Saves	1	6
Fouls	12	8
Offsides	2	1
Yellows	1	0
Reds	0	0
source: SkySports

Luton needed a response, but another Brown-Collins combination saw the latter again blast goalwards but fail to hit the target.

Knockaert continued his shoot-on-sight policy at the other end but he was too high on this occasion, while Collins' next effort struck a defender.

The score remained 1-0 at the break after Cavaleiro curled a right-footer just wide and Mitrovic, on the slide at the back post, could not convert at full stretch.

Luton came out with intent, Harry Cornick finding the side-netting after Brown set him up.

Brown had a go himself and won a corner, but it was not long before Mitrovic doubled the lead in the 53rd minute.

Bobby Reid's low ball across the box from the right only needed a connection and Mitrovic was there ahead of the centre-backs to convert from four yards.

Luton pulled one back on the hour mark through Potts, who lost his marker to head home Brown's free-kick.

Fulham's response was a free-kick move in the 67th minute that saw Mitrovic claim the match ball.

Knockaert played it to Joe Bryan on the left and Mitrovic stooped to nod his delivery into the box beyond Shea.

Collins came close to his 50th league goal for Luton, but Shea then was required to divert Cavaleiro's drive at the other end for a corner.

LuaLua pulled another back for Luton in stoppage time when fellow substitute Luke Bolton's ball across the box reached him at the back post, but it was not enough to deny Fulham the three points.

Fulham manager Scott Parker: "In the first half we were very good and should have gone in with a more comfortable lead than 1-0, but we were not clinical with the opportunities we got.

"We got a bit nervy at the end and were desperate for the win after a poor result at the weekend.

"I am delighted with the boys, as we looked very frightening and we dug out a result. At times we played some lovely football."

Luton boss Graeme Jones told BBC Three Counties Radio: "The first thing we have to accept is they are an exceptional team with an exceptional budget. It is not a level playing field.

"In the first half we gave them a little bit too much respect, but we changed the shape in the second half and took the game to them - so there are some pleasing aspects.

"There were key moments that didn't quite go our way, and that is probably why we lost. There is another level we need to go to to be ruthless."

Fulham: Rodak, Odoi, Mawson, Ream, Bryan, De Cordova-Reid (Johansen 81), Reed (McDonald 85), Cairney, Knockaert (Onomah 70), Mitrovic, Cavaleiro

Unused substitutes: Bettinelli, Le Marchand, S Sessegnon, Kamara

Goals:
Mitrovic 16 (right footed shot from the centre of the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Ivan Cavaleiro.)
Mitrovic 53 (right footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Bobby De Cordova-Reid.)
Mitrovic 67 (header from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Joe Bryan with a cross following a set piece situation.)

Booked: Cairney (73,f),

Luton Town: Shea, Bree (Bolton 70), Matty Pearson, Bradley, Potts, Mpanzu, Cranie, Tunnicliffe, Cornick (LuaLua 78), Collins (McManaman 78), Isaiah Brown

Unused substitutes: Sluga, Jones, Shinnie, Butterfield

Goals:
Potts 60 (header from the centre of the box to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by Isaiah Brown with a cross following a set piece situation.)
LuaLua 90+3 (left footed shot from very close range to the top left corner. Assisted by Luke Bolton.)

Referee: John Brooks (Leicestershire)

Attendance: 18,082