ALEKSANDAR MITROVIC’S 38th goal of the season moved leaders Fulham 17 points clear of the Sky Bet Championship’s play-off zone as they claimed a 1-0 win at Middlesbrough.
The Cottagers, on course for an immediate return to the Premier League, secured yet another victory, with Marco Silva’s men now 11 points clear of second-placed Bournemouth.
The Serbian’s header with 17 minutes remaining proved enough to knock Boro out of the top six.
Middlesbrough, who announced during the half-time break that the “people of Teesside” had donated £225,000 to help those in need in Ukraine courtesy of the club’s share of the gate receipts for the recent FA Cup tie against Chelsea, sit two points shy of Sheffield United and Nottingham Forest above them.
With Boro looking for a Riverside record ninth straight home win to climb up to fifth, it was a blow that highly-rated winger Isaiah Jones was missing.
It was always going to be a tough challenge for the home side to achieve that target against a team charging towards the top flight, but that did not stop them from looking to create.
Even though Middlesbrough had plenty of the ball in the early exchanges, Fulham’s quality in possession and ability to use the width of the pitch gave Chris Wilder’s men plenty to think about from the off.
Had it not been for a tame finish from Mitrovic following a Jonny Howson error, or some fine defending by Anfernee Dijksteel to thwart Fabio Carvalho, the leaders might have been ahead.
And with 23 minutes on the clock Mitrovic had the first clear-cut chance after Fulham turned defence into attack, with a hint of controversy too.
When Matt Crooks dived in to Harrison Reed in the Fulham half, the latter rolled around in agony while visiting boss Silva questioned why there was no foul and Middlesbrough played on.
After the Boro attack broke down, Reed hopped to his feet and ended up crossing into the area for Mitrovic to head low and goalkeeper Joe Lumley gathered.
Middlesbrough responded and a quick counter-attack ended with Howson curling from distance into the arms of goalkeeper Marek Rodak.
Shortly afterwards, Crooks’ first-time effort from Marcus Tavernier’s cross looked like testing Rodak but Tim Ream’s boot managed to direct the ball over the crossbar for a corner.
After the break, Fulham were quickest out of the blocks and Bobby Decordova-Reid came within inches of opening the scoring when his outstretched boot turned Kenny Tete’s low delivery wide of the far post.
But as the rain poured down at the Riverside, the noise levels lifted when Andraz Sporar forced Rodak into a fine stop down to his right on the hour.
Then in the 73rd minute, the prolific Mitrovic headed Fulham in front with a fine glancing header from Harry Wilson’s free-kick after Crooks had conceded a free-kick.
There was still time for substitute Josh Coburn to head inches wide from Marc Bola’s cross and Duncan Watmore to fire over from close range for Middlesbrough during a frantic finale.
Elsewhere, Bournemouth’s charge to automatic promotion from the Sky Bet Championship suffered a jolt with a surprise 2-0 defeat at West Brom.
Scott Parker’s side never recovered from a case of the defensive jitters which gifted early goals for Alex Mowatt and Andy Carroll and ended the Cherries’ five-match unbeaten run.
Finally, Nottingham Forest battled to a fourth consecutive Sky Bet Championship win and climbed into the play-off places with a 2-0 victory over Coventry at the City Ground.
Steve Cooper’s side had to work hard for their win but Brennan Johnson’s 15th goal of the season and a well-taken strike from James Garner, either side of half-time, put them on course for a precious three points.
