The Tanner Report: Fulham 4 QPR 1

I’m preparing this report with one eye on Brentford v Chelsea.

Time was when the West London bragging rights were contested by QPR and Chelsea and in the last 20 years Fulham and Chelsea yet never Brentford but – fair play to the Bees – they deserved promotion and have started well in the Premier.

Fulham went through a  ticky spell will be pleased with their day’s work by beating their West London neighbours comfortably.

It was not that easy though, as QPR levelled the score after half-time and there were Cottage fears of another Coventry-style second half meltdown.

We weathered the storm and surprisingly the final two goals came from players – Bobby Decordova Reed and Antonee Robinson – who were involved in international duty on the other side of the Atlantic on Thursday morning and still had to undergo the flight home.

It was Alex Mitrovic that was Fulham’s hero, notching up his eleventh and twelfth goal of the campaign, and his 50th in the Championship for us.

He looks much happier and better at link play under coach Marco Silva without losing any of his power.

Silva also showed good game management – with Harry Wilson not working well in central midfield, he put Bobby DeCordova Reed in that role with immediate success.

The new Riverside Stand looked magnificent but to fill it Fulham will need to be back in the Premiership.

We are third now, with WBA away in two weeks and Bournemouth at home in three, so  it’s very much in our hands.