With time fast running out in Burnley’s battle to beat the drop, every game now seems like a must-win for Scott Parker’s men. They were never likely to get any favours from a Fulham side that Parker used to manage, but they did at least manufacture an early sighting of goal when Zian Flemming’s goal-bound header was blocked by Calvin Bassey.
Harry Wilson was a thorn in Burnley’s side in the reverse fixture when he contributed to all three goals in Fulham’s 3-2 win. The Welshman was threatening to make an equally telling impact today too, going close on three separate occasions, twice curling just wide and once forcing Martin Dúbravka into a strong punch away.
The chances kept falling to the same two players, and Flemming had the best one in the first period, as the Dutchman freed himself in the area to get on the end of a teasing delivery, but his diving header was straight at Bernd Leno.
It wasn’t for a lack of trying that neither side could find a first-half breakthrough, but with plenty on the line, the second half promised to be a much more entertaining affair.
That certainly proved to be the case as far as Fulham were concerned, with their early pressure yielding a gilt-edged chance. Josh King marauded through on goal, and after seeing his initial effort repelled by Dúbravka, Rodrigo Muniz blazed the follow-up wide with the goal at his mercy.
They proved to be costly misses for the hosts, who were soon hit with the ultimate sucker punch as Burnley took the lead against the run of play.
Lyle Foster worked himself a yard in an inside right position and lasered a cross across the box, which Flemming was on hand to turn home at the far post. In typical fashion, though, the Clarets threw their lead away almost in an instant, with a defensive calamity again to blame.
A hopeful shot into the area prompted Dubravka to unnecessarily fly off his line, and in doing so, his collision with King saw the ball fall favourably for the Cottagers man to equalise.
Confidence was coursing through the veins of Marco Silva’s men after that leveller, and they didn’t have to wait too long to nose ahead. Wilson stepped in off the right and, in trademark fashion, snapped an effort back into the near corner.
Josh Laurent missed a golden opportunity to level the scores in the closing stages, and his afternoon went from bad to worse in added time when he was sent off after denying Raul Jimenez a clear goalscoring opportunity.
The Mexican dusted himself off to convert from the spot and round off a great afternoon for Fulham, who took full advantage of playing before most of their European rivals.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Harry Wilson (Fulham)
