Middlesbrough 0-1 Fulham
- Published
Oliver Norwood's fifth goal of the season gave Fulham their fourth win in five league games
Oliver Norwood's penalty in the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time gave Fulham victory at fellow play-off hopefuls Middlesbrough.
The on-loan midfielder tucked in from the spot after he was tripped in the box by Boro's Grant Leadbitter.
Britt Assombalonga almost scored for the hosts moments before, but saw his effort come back off the crossbar.
Assombalonga's strike partner Rudy Gestede spurned two one-on-one chances in the first half.
The Benin international first miscontrolled when played in by Norwood's poor back pass, then dragged another effort wide of the post five minutes before the break.
Fulham had few chances, with Tomas Kalas hitting the side-netting and Stefan Johansen firing wide, but victory took Slavisa Jokanovic's side up to eighth in the table, one point off the play-off places.
Boro had penalty claims waved away when Martin Braithwaite went down in the box under the challenge of Kalas and the Dane fired an effort just wide after being played through in the second half.
The defeat was Tony Pulis' second in three Championship games following his appointment as Boro boss on 27 December, and the Teesside outfit are now two points outside the top six as they seek an immediate return to the Premier League.
Middlesbrough boss Tony Pulis said:
"I am disappointed because I thought we were the better side, especially in the first half when we had three or four chances and Fulham didn't do anything to hurt us. We were the dominant force.
"We didn't play as well in the second half but looking at the Braithwaite penalty, it is a really disappointing decision. We understand and recognise referees will make mistakes but when they affect matches they should be called into question.
"The player falls before Grant touches him. The big thing in the game nowadays is when legs tend to buckle without any challenge being made, which is difficult for referees to get right.
"I am not sure who is in charge of Championship referees but you would love to ask the referee why he didn't give it. It has happened to me loads of times but the disappointing thing is they get a penalty at the other end which was harder to call but he blew straight away."
Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic said:
"They pushed each other (Braithwaite and Kalas) and the referee was in perfect position to make the decision.
"For our penalty, it was clearly a contact between Norwood and the Boro player and, again, the referee was in the perfect position to give the penalty.
"This is only three points and given us a positive push for the next challenge ahead. We want to win, and it is an important points and it is important to win these games. I think we will have positive week in front of us and (will be) ready for next time."