MX23RW : Sunday, May 19 02:25:18| >> :120:47412:47412:

Marco Silva hails hat-trick hero Aleksandar Mitrovic

Marco Silva hails hat-trick hero Aleksandar Mitrovic
© Reuters
Mitrovic took his season tally to 10 goals in 10 league games.

Marco Silva heaped praise on Aleksandar Mitrovic after the striker hit a first half hat-trick in Fulham's 3-1 win over Swansea at Craven Cottage.

Mitrovic took his season tally to 10 goals in 10 league games with three clinical finishes which put the Cottagers on course for victory before the break.

But Fulham boss Silva also insisted the Serbia striker's performance was also a reflection of his team-mates's efforts.

Silva said: "For Mitro to score three goals means he had a very good night. But the way we put the ball for him to score was really good.

"No striker in the world can score if the team doesn't set it up for him and we played well for him to score.

"That is why he is here with us, that is why we renewed his contract and that id why he is playing every time because he is player that knows the competition really well.

"He's not just important because he can score. He is a key player in the way we like to play. And of course he can score in the box.

"Since the first day he has been happy. He is on the same page as the others. When the team wins he is happy like the others. When the team loses he is unhappy like the others.

"Like all of us he is working hard to be successful at the end of the season."

Silva added: "I'm definitely happy with the result. I thought we were very good, especially in the first half."

Mitrovic put Fulham ahead in 12th minute although Swansea manager Russell Martin insisted the forward was offside.

The second goal came in the 32nd minute and Mitrovic added the third in the 45th minute after Jamie Paterson replied in the 48th minute.

Martin said:  'I'm really disappointed we lost but I find it hard to be disappointed with the performance.

"I'm really proud of the players.  We went toe to toe with the best team in the division.

"We had some great moments, sometimes you have to accept when they are playing with really high quality and two of their goals were really high quality.

"And the guy finishes it off is deadly and one of the best strikers in the division, if not the best.

"But the first goal is tough to take. We work on trying to get out of the box and he is offside. It's a mistake.

"I loved our performance in the second half. We showed real courage. We had a massive chance but what we we lacked was that bit of confidence, that bit of swagger which is what they had.

"But we looked a really good team for long periods."

ID:466020:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect2850:

Click here for more stories about Fulham

Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Aleksandar Mitrovic celebrates scoring for Fulham against Bristol City on September 25, 2021
Read Next:
Wednesday's Championship predictions including Fulham vs. Swansea City
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free daily transfer newsletter! Sent twice a day during the transfer window.
Read more about Fulham Swansea City Football
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City37277393336088
2Arsenal37275589286186
3Liverpool372310484414379
4Aston Villa37208976562068
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs371961271611063
6Chelsea371791175621360
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle371761481602157
8Manchester UnitedMan Utd37176145558-357
9West Ham UnitedWest Ham371410135971-1252
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton371212135560-548
11Bournemouth37139155365-1248
12Crystal Palace371210155258-646
13Wolverhampton WanderersWolves37137175063-1346
14Fulham37128175159-844
15Everton37139153949-1040
16Brentford37109185461-739
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3789204766-1929
18Luton TownLuton3768235081-3126
RBurnley3759234076-3624
RSheffield UnitedSheff Utd37372735101-6616


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!