Ipswich Town 0-1 Fulham: Aleksandar Mitrovic header sends Premier League side through
- Published
Aleksandar Mitrovic scored his 50th goal for Fulham in his 102nd appearance for the club
Captain Aleksandar Mitrovic scored his 50th goal for Fulham as the Premier League side overcame League One Ipswich in their Carabao Cup second-round tie.
Serbia international Mitrovic headed the game's only goal from Kenny Tete's cross after 38 minutes to set up a third-round meeting with Championship side Sheffield Wednesday.
It has taken Mitrovic 102 appearances to reach 50 goals for the club he joined from Newcastle, initially on loan, in February 2018. Fulham's next highest goalscorer in that time is Tom Cairney with 14.
The 26-year-old - a second-half substitute in Fulham's Premier League opening-day defeat by Arsenal on Saturday - was denied a second goal either side of half-time by goalkeeper David Cornell, who produced an excellent double save on 59 minutes to also stop Bobby Decordova-Reid's follow-up.
Manager Scott Parker named nine changes to his side, handing debuts to Paris St-Germain loanee goalkeeper Alphonse Areola, Dutch right-back Tete, American left-back Antonee Robinson and Southampton loanee Mario Lemina.
Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa went closest for the visitors in a quiet first half as he volleyed Anthony Knockaert's cross narrowly wide from the edge of the box.
Knockaert went close too, firing just over from outside the penalty area, while Ipswich summer signing Oli Hawkins shot wide at close range for Paul Lambert's hosts.
Fulham travel to fellow promoted side Leeds United in the Premier League on Saturday (15:00 BST), while Ipswich return to League One duties against Bristol Rovers at the same time.
'Mitrovic is vitally important' - what they said
Fulham boss Scott Parker on match-winner Aleksandar Mitrovic: "For him to get valuable minutes, score a goal, work hard for the team is vitally important for us, he's going to be a vitally important cog for us.
"When the ball comes in at that quality I was standing there thinking 'if that's on his head it's going in'. That's exactly where he finishes."
Ipswich boss Paul Lambert: "We saw Fulham's team sheet and we put a strong side out, but they have so many great players.
"But we went toe to toe with them and I thought we were excellent, some good play, some guys playing for the first time which was really good.
"Every one of them faced it today, so I thought there were some really good performances."