A GLORIOUS strike from captain Tom Cairney and a late goal by Aleksandar Mitrovic saw Fulham overcome Blackburn at Craven Cottage. 

It was a game played in blustery conditions that contributed to the poor quality of much of the football.

Blackburn started the brighter without threatening Marcus Bettinelli’s goal. And Fulham took advantage as they started to get a foothold in the game and assert their passing style of football.

In the 35th minute Cairney provided the one supreme moment of action, receiving the ball from 30 yards out.

He took a touch before curling the ball into the top corner beyond the despairing dive of Christian Walton.

Blackburn striker Sam Gallagher came close to an equaliser with a second-half header and was left to rue the miss when minutes later Fulham left back Joe Bryan broke forward and his cross gave Mitrovic the simplest of chances.

Fulham manager Scott Parker was pleased with the way his team took risks in an attempt to build play from the back. “I thought the boys were brave because there were some nerves and last week in the defeat against Barnsley, I felt we took the easy option too often, so I was happy to see them taking some risks.”

Blackburn manager Tony Mowbray was left ruing the failure of his team to take advantage of those nerves and the misplaced passes by the opposition. “I thought we were dominant for the whole first half. I think the second half was really scrappy. I don’t think there was much in it and they scored their two goals in isolation.”

Mowbray says at this point in time he is not worried by his side starting the season with two defeats. Fulham will now head to Huddersfield on Friday night looking to live up to their tag as promotion favourites.