MX23RW : Friday, November 8 10:45:21| >> :120:15481:15481:
[monks data]
Fulham logo
Championship
Apr 25, 2015 at 3pm UK
 
Middlesbrough logo

4-3

Turner (45'), McCormack (55' pen., 67' pen., 94')
FT(HT: 1-0)
Reach (63'), Ayala (73'), Kike (88')

Seven-goal thriller sees Fulham edge Middlesbrough

Fulham score deep into stoppage time to edge out Middlesbrough 4-3 at Craven Cottage - a result that sees Watford secure their place in the Premier League next season.

Fulham got the better of a seven-goal thriller at home to Middlesbrough this afternoon to help Watford book their place in the Premier League next season.

The Cottagers edged out the visitors 4-3 in a result that means that Aitor Karanka's men cannot catch the Hornets in the Championship's top two.

Grant Leadbitter went close inside the first five minutes with a powerful free kick that whistled past the post, and it was the visitors who started the brighter.

Albert Adomah was next to try his luck, but his effort sailed wide of the goal on nine minutes, before Ross McCormack fired in Fulham's first effort from range.

Boro keeper Dimitrios Konstantopoulos was forced into his first save of the afternoon on 21 minutes when he got down well to deny McCormack.

The visitors responded on the half-hour mark through George Friend, who flashed an effort just past the upright after a driving run took him towards goal.

McCormack went close with a free kick on 40 minutes, but neither side were able to carve out a clear-cut chance before Michael Turner headed home on the cusp of half time.

Ross McCormack of Fulham celebrates with team mate Sean Kavanagh after scoring his sides second goal from the penalty spot during the Sky Bet Championship match between Fulham and Middlesbrough at Craven Cottage on April 25, 2015© Getty Images

Boro had Konstantopoulos to thank for keeping the score at 1-0 when he denied Hugo Roadallega from McCormack's cross shortly after the restart.

However, the Greek stopper could do little to thwart McCormack 10 minutes into the second period, when the former Leeds striker netted from the penalty spot to extend the Cottagers' advantage.

Adam Reach reduced the deficit shortly after the hour mark for Boro, but the joy was short-lived for the visitors, who were reduced to 10 men almost immediately.

Friend was dismissed for a professional foul before McCormack restored Fulham's two-goal advantage from the penalty spot.

Aitor Karanka's men were back in it on 73 minutes when former Liverpool centre-back Daniel Ayala headed home, and Boro began to press for an equaliser.

Patrick Bamford should have made it 3-3 inside the final 10 minutes, but the on-loan Chelsea striker's effort trickled agonisingly wide.

A neat exchange put Ayala through once more for Boro, but the Spaniard chipped his effort wide of the post late on as Karanka's side refused to give in.

Their pressure finally told with three minutes of normal time remaining when Kike's effort beat Marcus Bettinelli, despite the Fulham stopper getting a palm on the strike.

However, the 10 men were caught cold in stoppage time when they pushed Konstantopoulos forward for a corner to try to snatch an unlikely win, and a breakaway from Fulham saw McCormack roll the ball into the net to complete his hat-trick.

The result, coupled with Rotherham United's 1-1 draw with Norwich City, means that Watford will play in England's top tier next term.

ID:219199: cacheID:219199:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:5799:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Jelle Vossen of Middlesbrough celebrates with Patrick Bamford as he scores their first goal during the Sky Bet Championship match between Middlesbrough and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Riverside Stadium on April 14, 2015
Read Next:
Live Commentary: Fulham 4-3 Boro - as it happened
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
FT
Bengals
34-35
Ravens
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!