Fulham 1-1 Blackpool: Aleksandar Mitrovic scores 28th goal of season but Championship leaders held

The Championship leaders were held back by an impressive Blackpool side in an entertaining game at Craven Cottage, despite the fact that Aleksandar Mitrovic scored his 28th goal of the season.

The Cottagers dominated from the start and were rewarded with a goal from Mitrovic, who tapped home from close range.

The game was held up for more than 40 minutes after a medical emergency in the crowd, and after the break, the game improved dramatically.

Both sides hit the woodwork, but the visitors earned a point as Josh Bowler tapped in after a mistake by Tosin Adarabioyo.

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Marco Silva's side have a game in hand on second-place Rovers, despite the fact that they were held at Luton.

The hosts had scored 22 goals in January, six fewer than their total for the entire season, and another emphatic win looked to be on the cards after the opener.

The Serbia forward has already surpassed his best scoring season, having netted 26 when the Cottagers won promotion from the Championship, and few will have been easier than the square ball set up on a plate here.

Had a wonderful Wilson shot dropped in, rather than inches wide, they might have been blown away but, once play resumed after lengthy treatment for an unwell fan, they went toe-to-toe with the table topers.

The excellent Bowler curled on to the bar after cutting inside from the right, after the excellent Connolly's free-kick was well saved by the keeper.

At the other end, Jordan Thorniley headed a Carvalho cross on to his own post before the teenager was denied by the upright after a brilliant solo run and one-two with Kebano early in the second half.

The referee, Peter Bankes, was thanked by the Seasiders for not issuing a red card for Kenny Dougall's high boot that appeared to hit Harrison Reed in the face.

Both goalkeepers were involved in the game, with Daniel Grimshaw stopping Wilson and Rodak denying Jordan Gabriel and Hamilton.

Marco Silva is the head coach of the Cottagers.

We started the game brilliantly against a team who changed their formation, which is happening more and more. They changed everything they do, they respect us, and they sat back.

I don't think they passed the halfway line in the first 10 minutes. We had more chances to score. We tried to come back with the same intensity after the break, but it was not normal.

The second half wasn't a good performance from ourselves but the referee had a bad performance as well. We made a lot of mistakes and that gave them some belief.

We are doing fantastic things since the Christmas break. For 45 minutes, we didn't perform at our best, but that doesn't mean everything will change.

Neil Critchley is the boss of Blackpool.

We were tentative to start with, not aggressive enough in our mindset, that was my fault, my coaching during the week and my messages. I have not set the team up correctly.

We got on the front foot a bit more and the game got a bit more competitive and I have nothing but praise for the guys.

They are a fantastic football team and we took the game to them.

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
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Formation 4-2-3-1.

• 1Rodák
• 4OdoiBooked at 26minsSubstituted forKnockaertat 83'minutes
• 16Tosin
• 13Ream
• 23Bryan
• 10Cairney
• 6ReedSubstituted forChalobahat 73'minutes
• 8WilsonBooked at 75mins
• 28CarvalhoBooked at 68mins
• 7KebanoSubstituted forMuniz Carvalhoat 73'minutes
• 9MitrovicBooked at 45mins

Substitutes

• 3Hector
• 11Knockaert
• 12Chalobah
• 17Cavaleiro
• 19Muniz Carvalho
• 21Gazzaniga
• 25Onomah

Formation 4-5-1

• 32Grimshaw
• 4Lawrence-GabrielBooked at 90mins
• 21Ekpiteta
• 26Keogh
• 34Thorniley
• 35Sterling
• 11Bowler
• 2Connolly
• 12DougallBooked at 39mins
• 22Hamilton
• 19LaverySubstituted forYatesat 80'minutes

Substitutes

• 7Dale
• 9Yates
• 13Moore
• 14Madine
• 15Robson
• 20Casey
• 27Kirk

1. The match ends with a score of 1.

2. The second half ended with a single goal by Blackpool.

3. The foul was committed by the man.

4. Richard Keogh won a free kick in the defensive half.

5. Jordan Lawrence-Gabriel was shown a yellow card for a bad foul.

6. The free kick was won in the defensive half.

7. Foul by Jordan Lawrence-Gabriel.

8. There is a free kick on the left wing.

9. Foul by Callum Connolly.

10. Foul by Nathaniel.

11. Jordan Lawrence-Gabriel won a free kick.

12. An attempt was missed. The left side of the six yard box is close to the goal, but it misses to the left. Anthony Knockaert assisted with a cross.

13. The free kick was won in the defensive half.

14. Foul by Marvin Ekpiteta.

15. Foul by Joe Bryan.

16. Josh Bowler won a free kick.

17. There is an attempt, Fulham. Joe Bryan tried a through ball, but he was caught off guard.

18. An attempt was missed. The shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.

19. There is a substitution for the team from the team from the team from the team from the team from the team from the team from the team from the team from the team from the team from the team from the team from the team from the team from the team from the team from the team Denis Odoi was replaced by Anthony Knockaert.

20. Corner. There was a Conceded by Marek Rod.