Leicester City 0-1 Fulham: Aleksandar Mitrovic on target as Cottagers claim third successive win
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Mitrovic's opener was his 11th Premier League goal of the season, equalling his season's best return.
Fulham matchwinner Aleksandar Mitrovic said his side "want to keep the dream going" after their 1-0 victory at Leicester City lifted them up to seventh in the Premier League table.
The striker chested down Willian's cross before firing home from close range in the 17th minute to help the Cottagers win their third successive match since the league returned after the World Cup break.
Fulham's latest win means they now sit on 28 points - level with Liverpool - and in a Europa Conference League spot.
In their last two Premier League campaigns they went down with 26 points in 2018-19 and 28 in 2020-21.
"It's amazing," said Mitrovic, 28. "When you get promoted, the first target is to stay up.
"We don't think ahead, we stay with both feet on the ground. We'll see what happens at the end.
"This is a dream for us - we want to keep the dream going."
Joy and pain for matchwinner Mitrovic
Leicester 0-1 Fulham: Cottagers' quality, desire & commitment pleases Marco Silva
Relegation fights feel like a thing of the past for Marco Silva's side, who had the game's first chance through Willian's curling shot.
The Brazilian then set up Mitrovic, whose opener was his second goal in three games and 11th of the campaign to equal his season's best in the top flight.
The only blot on the Serbian's record was a 78th-minute yellow card for a foul on Harvey Barnes, which will rule him out of Fulham's next league match with Chelsea next Thursday.
Fulham had a chance to double their lead in injury-time but Harry Wilson scuffed his shot narrowly wide when one-on-one with Leicester keeper Danny Ward.
"[This was] the best way to finish 2022 and the best way to start 2023," said manager Silva.
"We have to be realistic and to keep our feet on the ground. No-one expected us to be in this position before the season started. You are here to enjoy and embrace the challenge.
"We have 28 points, it's a big achievement for us now but we have to keep on working hard."
Rodgers wants January arrivals after third straight loss
Leicester 0-1 Fulham: Rodgers rues Foxes not taking their chances
Leicester, who were greeted with boos at the full-time whistle, fell to a third defeat on the bounce and remain three points above the bottom three in 13th.
They almost levelled through Youri Tielemans, who smashed an 80th-minute effort against the crossbar.
Ayoze Perez also went close for the Foxes, failing to convert a Tielemans cross, while Fulham keeper Bernd Leno made an important stop to deny Barnes.
While Fulham have shone since the resumption, Leicester's form has been dull, even if they were unfortunate in their defeat to Liverpool last time out.
Leicester fell to a third home defeat in a row without scoring for the first time since 1983
Brendan Rodgers' team finished the game down on two key midfielders, with Boubakary Soumare suffering a hamstring injury in the first half and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall injured in the warm-up.
"Hopefully we can get some strength in January," Rodgers said afterwards.
"There's not a lot of money but maybe there is some to do with what we want to do."
Both sides are in FA Cup third round action on Saturday, with Leicester at League Two Gillingham and Fulham visiting Championship side Hull City.
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