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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Ricky Charlesworth

Red-hot Fulham lauded as 'different animal' after breaking 68-year goalscoring record

Fulham are in sensational form right now.

The Cottagers smashed Birmingham City 6-2 at home on Tuesday night to rack up a third win on the bounce and go five points clear at the top of the Championship.

Those three victories have seen them score a simply stunning 19 goals, after beating Bristol City by the same scoreline in their previous outing. That came hot on the heels of a 7-0 win at Reading on January 11.

In doing so they became the first English second tier side to score six or more in three consecutive league games since Everton back in 1954 - with the Toffees going on to be promoted that year.

Can anyone stop Fulham winning the Championship title? Let us know in the comments

Perhaps what was most impressive about this latest win was that it was achieved without star striker Aleksandar Mitrovic even registering a goal or an assist. He has been directly involved in 34 goals so far, but his teammates overshadowed him against the Blues.

Fulham are by far and away the most prolific team in the entire top four divisions of English football with 70 goals notched up in 26 games so far.

Birmingham boss Lee Bowyer has now referred to Marco Silva's side as a 'different animal' after watching his side suffer the same fate as many other second tier sides.

“We didn’t do too much wrong and then they go ‘bang, goal," Bowyer told BBC WM.

"You can’t stop the power, the strength, the quality they have.

"They’re quality all over the pitch, they’re a different animal to us and everything they do is with a purpose.

“We’re a hard working team and no matter how hard the players tried, they still couldn’t get close to them.

“We kept Mitrovic quiet but they’ve got so many players all over the pitch - the left-back’s come and screamed one in from 25 yards.

“It’s a tough night and we have to put that behind us.”

After watching his side notch up another high-scoring win, Silva said: "It was a very good result for us, a fantastic score again. It wasn’t our best performance but we created chances and scored goals from some very good attacking moments.

“I expected us to control better the ball but we were the best team on the pitch and I have to congratulate my players again.

“Having four different scorers was pleasing. We have a fantastic goal-scorer and it is a good sign that we are able to score six goals even if our top scorer doesn’t score.

“Mitrovic didn’t score but was always involved in everything. He did very well tonight. Even though he didn’t score I am very happy with him. He is really happy. Of course he wants to score but he knows the main thing is the football club."

Silva also spoke highly of youngster Fabio Carvalho, who scored two and created one. The 19-year-old has been linked with a host of big clubs.

Silva added: “Carvalho is a key player for us. He gave us very good things.

"It has been a season of up and downs for him and rumours around him that didn’t help but always I see the same commitment.”

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