Match Report Swansea City (0) 1-2 (2) Fulham Championship Match Day 19 1920 at Liberty Stadium Friday 29th November 2019     KO: 19:45 Referee: Simon Hooper (Wiltshire)

Fulham Striker Aleksandar Mitrovic

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Fulham moved to within two points of second-place Leeds as they beat Swansea 2-1 and recorded their fourth Sky Bet Championship win in succession at the Liberty Stadium on Friday night.

Aleksandar Mitrovic gave the visitors the lead against the run of play with a close-range finish (22), before adding a clinical second to give Scott Parker's men a commanding lead before the half-time whistle (43).

A header from George Byers gave the Swans a glimmer of hope (65) but Fulham weathered the storm to pick up three points in south Wales.

Fulham stay third after the victory, though Marcelo Bielsa's men remain firmly within their sights and while Swansea stay sixth after their fifth home defeat of the season, both Bristol City and Brentford can move above them with victory on Saturday.

With plenty at stake in this fixture between two of the division's leading play-off hopefuls, who share a similar attacking approach, there was never going to be a shortage of entertainment.

Match Stats	Swansea	Fulham
Goals	(0) 1	0 (2)
Scorers	Byers 65	Mitrovic 22
Scorers		Mitrovic 43
,
Goal attempts	18	10
On target	7	4
Shooting Accuracy	39%	40%
Possession	47%	53%
Passes	472	547
Passes Success	82%	86%
Crosses	24	10
Crosses Success	17%	30%
Corners	6	0
Tackles	30	22
Tackles Success	43%	55%
Saves	2	6
Fouls	12	18
Offsides	1	1
Yellows	0	1
Reds	0	0
source: SkySports

The Cottagers had won three league games in succession ahead of kick-off, but that streak came under threat in the first 20 minutes, firstly when Marek Rodak saved Sam Surridge's effort at point-blank range, before Byers' rasping half-volley struck the outside of the post.

But their inability to take advantage when in control was punished soon after when Mitrovic scored his first goal of the evening, heading a loose ball over the line after Aboubakar Kamara's effort had crashed off the underside of the crossbar.

Though there was no shortage of desire to get back into the game from the hosts, they had themselves to blame for going two down; Josh Onomah snuffed out Kristoffer Peterson's pass and fed Ivan Cavaleiro, who crossed for Mitrovic to add a clinical second.

The battle between Byers and Rodak had been bubbling for more than an hour, with the 22-year-old goalkeeper largely on top, but with 25 minutes to play, Byers got his own back when he headed a cross from Barrie McKay over the line.

As expected a barrage of chances followed for the hosts, but while Byers saw another long-distance drive blocked, Steve Cooper's men couldn't muster enough to avoid defeat.

Fulham return to Craven Cottage next Saturday, where they host Bristol City at 3pm, while Swansea travel to West Brom on Sunday December 8 in a game live on Sky Sports Football. That game gets underway at midday.

Swansea City: Woodman, Roberts, Wilmot, van der Hoorn, Naughton, Fulton (Carroll 74), Grimes. Ayew, Byers, Peterson (McKay 58), Surridge (Baston 84)

Unused substitutes: Nordfeldt, Bidwell, Cabango, Celina

Goals:
Byers 65 (header from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Barrie McKay with a cross following a set piece situation.)

Fulham: Rodak, Odoi, Mawson, Ream, Bryan, Johansen, Cairney, Kamara (McDonald 74), Onomah (Christie 79), Cavaleiro (Knockaert 85), Mitrovic

Unused substitutes: Bettinelli, Kebano, O'Riley, De La Torre

Goals:
Mitrovic 22 (header from the right side of the six yard box to the top right corner.)
Mitrovic 43 (right footed shot from the centre of the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Josh Onomah.)

Booked: Kamara (32,f),

Referee: Simon Hooper (Wiltshire)

Attendance: 16,024