Aleksandar Mitrovic returns in style as Fulham guarantee play-off place with victory over Cardiff City

Aleksandar Mitrovic wasted little time in making amends for the loss of discipline that led to his three-match ban, marking his return with the goal that set Fulham on course for a fourth successive win that guarantees their place in the Championship play-offs and maintains their challenge for an top two spot.

Mitrovic, punished retrospectively for elbowing Leeds defender Ben White, converted a first half penalty for his 24th league goal of the season, while Josh Onomah added a second half second to maintain the Cottagers’s impressive momentum. They now lie four points behind second-placed West Bromwich Albion, who play Blackburn Rovers today, with Scott Parker’s due visit the Hawthorns on  Tuesday.

The odds are stacked firmly against Fulham breaking into the top two, but Mitrovic has not given up hope of claiming an automatic promotion place. “We have three games left and we will try to push the top two and see what happens,” said the forward. “While we have the chance for automatic promotion we will keep pushing. We all make mistakes. I did against Leeds and I was punished. Now I’m back I try to do the best I can. This deserves to be in the Premier League and we will push until the end of the season.”

For Cardiff, a second successive defeat, means they could drop out of the top six this weekend. “We didn’t do enough in the penalty area and that’s were games are won and lost,” said Neil Harris, the manager. “I would imagine we need to seven points to get in the play-offs. But we are still in sixth place. If we fall out of the top six on Sunday, then we can go with no fear. We have got ourselves in a great position.”

Parker’s side had collected maximum points during Mitrovic’s absence, but there was never any doubt the manager would restore his leading scorer to the starting line-up and took the forward just 35 minutes to make his impact felt. The forward pulled back by Dion Sanderson, the Cardiff right-back, as he attempted to reach a 35th minute cross, referee Gavin Ward spotted the infringement and Mitrovic beat Smithies emphatically from the penalty spot.

Cardiff responded positively and were unfortunate not to equalise five minutes later when Joe Ralls directed a shot on the turn against the crossbar. However, the home side always looked threatening, having had a second penalty appeal turned down, got got their second in the 66th minute when Onomah drilled in a low shot from 16 yards after exchanging passes with Stefan Johansen.

“We go there on Tuesday hoping to try and get a result,” said Parker on Tuesday. "We will work out where we are in the next two or three games and go from there.”