Fulham 2-0 Blackburn: Kebano and Wilson move hosts 11 points clear at top of Championship

It is perhaps football’s worst kept secret that Fulham hold the hottest ticket in town. 

There are moans and groans like any ground across the country, there is the usual vitriol directed at the referee but here there is almost a guarantee of goals. 

Only twice at Craven Cottage this season have Fulham come up short in serving up celebrations for their supporters – Wayne Rooney’s Derby dug in for a 0-0 back in late November and the increasingly impressive Sheffield United ground out a 1-0 win just before Christmas. 

But there was any chance of this Blackburn side producing another shut-out. So make that 84 and counting for Fulham now. 

Neeskens Kebano and Harry Wilson (left and right) earned Fulham a 2-0 win over Blackburn

Kebano capitalised on a goalkeeping mistake to give the hosts liftoff in the 25th minute

With 12 games to go, don’t bet against this group smashing Reading’s Championship goals record of 99 from 2005-06.   

The first was a gift, a freebie if you will, and Fulham’s rivals know they don’t exactly need many of those. Neco Williams, who almost wrapped up Fulham’s Goal of the Season award in the closing stages when he struck the bar with a shot from the halfway line, found himself a yard inside the area having cut in from the right. 

What seemed like a straightforward gather from a toe-poke drive for goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski soon became a highlight worthy of a Benny Hill backing track. The Rovers goalkeeper spilled straight to Neeskens Kebano, one of three changes for Fulham, and it was easily the most straightforward of his nine league goals.

Blackburn shipped seven without reply when these met at Ewood Park earlier in the season, their record home league defeat, but since then Tony Mowbray’s defence has looked solid, only nine breaches since that humiliation in November. 

But Fulham make even the best look ordinary and Blackburn left here looking increasingly ordinary. 

The second was brilliance from back to front, both worthy of highlighting. The pass from centre back Tosin Adarabioyo was reminiscent of Premier League midfielders and the finish by Harry Wilson was even better. 

First, the pass. Adarabioyo had the time to lift his head up and spray it past the inside of wing-back Harry Pickering. Off Wilson scampered like a dog chasing a frisbee in Bishops Park next to the ground. Pickering had no chance and this time there was little Kaminski could do to deny Wilson’s exquisite chip. 

Wilson then stroked home 10 minutes later to double Fulham’s lead at Craven Cottage

The former Liverpool man helped Marco Silva’s side open up an 11-point lead at the top

Sam Gallagher thought he had pulled one back for Blackburn only for the goal to be disallowed

‘We want seven, we want seven,’ sang the home fans, in a nod to that Ewood Park trip. Tony Mowbray was rightly furrowing his brow as Wilson celebrated. 

That’s 20 goal contributions for Wilson, now. Nine goals and 11 assists. No doubt Wales boss Robert Page is taking note ahead of their crucial World Cup qualifier with Austria later this month. 

One of the most impressive elements to Marco Silva’s side is their insatiable appetite for goals. Aleksander Mitrovic has 34 already – and Guy Cunningham’s second division record of 42 is no doubt in his sights, even if this was a quieter game for him. 

He wanted a penalty in the first half after cutting inside Darragh Lenihan, only for referee David Webb to scoff and wave it away. Replays showed the Fulham striker was leaving his leg out awaiting the contact. 

Blackburn wanted a penalty of their own when youngster Tyrhys Dolan was felled by Neeskens Kebano. His fall was befitting of the West End; the theatre that is, not the football. He was booked for simulation. 

It was a comfortable afternoon for Silva and his side, who have all but secured promotion

The closest they came was when substitute Sam Gallagher had his tap-in ruled out for an earlier offside. Again, replays showed the referee got that spot on.

Mowbray has to regroup now, just as they did when Fulham hit them for seven at Ewood Park. 

They took 26 of the next 30 points and flirted with automatic promotion before 20-goal scorer Ben Brereton Diaz suffered ligament damage against West Brom. They need something similar now with teams around them smelling blood. 

For Fulham the smiles roll on for another week. Sooner or later their Premier League status will be restored but for now it’s all about records and at this rate expect more to tumble.