Premier League

Fulham 2 (Wilson 58’, Pereira 72’)

Leeds United 1 (Palhinha 79’ og)

Fulham: Leno (GK), Tete, Tosin, Reed (Lukic 82’), Wilson (Solomon 86’), Ream (C), De Cordova-Reid (Vinicius 82’), Pereira, Willian (Kebano 90’), Palhinha, Robinson. Subs not used: Rodak (GK), Duffy, Cairney, Soares, Diop. 

Leeds: Meslier (GK), Koch, Cooper (C), Aaronson (Sinisterra 65’), Roca, Summerville, Harrison (Gnonto 80’), Rodrigo (Bamford 65’), Kristensen, McKennie (Forshaw 80’), Wober. Subs not used: Robles (GK), Ayling, Firpo, Struijk, Rutter. 

Venue: Craven Cottage

Attendance: TBC

Referee: Peter Bankes

Booked: Palhinha (Fulham) McKennie, Wober, Cooper, Roca (Leeds) 

Javi Gracia’s side lost away from home on Saturday against Fulham at Craven Cottage, with all three goals in the game coming in the second half. 

The opening 15 minutes in West London saw few chances made. When some did arrive, the first went to Fulham, as Tosin powered a header on target only to see Illan Meslier make an excellent stop to tip the effort away at full-stretch.

Down the opposite end, good work from Crysencio Summerville earned a free-kick just outside the box for Leeds. Marc Roca stepped up and curled powerfully on goal, forcing Bernd Leno to make the fingertip save this time and deny the midfielder. 

Back in the starting XI after recovering from his recent injury, Liam Cooper was called upon 10 minutes before the break. Brazilian international Willian cut inside and shot on goal, only to see the skipper put his body on the line and deny the strike. 

In a half that had lacked any major chances, Andreas Pereira was the next to try and break the deadlock. Again it was a shot from range, which Meslier got behind and saved. 

Attacking link-up play between Rasmus Kristensen, Brenden Aaronson and Summerville down the wing saw Leeds get in good positions, but up to this point the defensive pairing of Tosin and Tim Ream had stood firm.

The teams went in level at the interval, with the only other talking points of note being that central midfielders on each side, Weston McKennie and Joao Palhinha, had gone into the referee’s notebook. 

HALF TIME: Fulham 0-0 Leeds United 

Both teams began the second half with more positive play down the wings, exchanging attacks. Antonee Robinson and Willian remained lively for the home side, whereas Jack Harrison and Max Wober had pushed forward for Leeds. 

Just before the hour mark, Fulham went ahead in the match. Meslier pushed away Willian’s cross from the left at full-stretch, only for the ball to fall kindly to Harry Wilson who struck home first time off the underside of the crossbar.  

Fulham had another big chance on goal, which went the right side of the woodwork this time from a Leeds point of view. Pereira shot at goal from a free-kick and it clipped the top of the bar before it went to safety. 

Gracia looked to his bench in the 65th minute. Patrick Bamford and Luis Sinisterra were brought on, replacing Aaronson and Rodrigo. 

The home side went two goals ahead in the 72nd minute. It was another cross from the wing, where the ball fell kindly again for Pereira to finish easily at close range this time and double the advantage.

After combining well around the box, Sinisterra and Harrison created space for Roca to shoot. The midfielder struck well on target and forced a good save from Leno, resulting in multiple corners on the bounce.

The Whites got back in game following one of those set-plays. Summerville kept the ball alive and found Cooper in space on the wing. The captain played it low into the middle, where Bamford was closest to getting the touch, but it eventually went in off Palhinha for an own-goal.

Fulham came close to restoring their advantage with another free-kick on target. Meslier produced a top save to deny Willian’s effort, reacting well to claw the ball away after it had then come back down off the crossbar. 

Leeds kept on throwing everything and everyone forward in the final few moments, but were left frustrated as the hosts held onto their one-goal lead to secure the three points.

FULL TIME: Fulham 2-1 Leeds United