Fulham 6-2 Birmingham: Cottagers go goal-crazy again to stretch Championship lead to five points

For the third time in a week, Fulham went goal-crazy against one of the Championship’s lower mid-table sides - this time with six goals smashed past Birmingham.

The Cottagers hit seven past Reading without reply last Tuesday before romping to a 6-2 win at home to Bristol City on the weekend.

And the goals were shared between five players, including one of Birmingham’s, to match that scoreline again at Craven Cottage on Tuesday night to build out their lead atop the table to five points.

Fulham’s first came in the 10th minute when Tom Cairney’s deflected pass put Harry Wilson into a crossing position on the right.

The Welshman’s delivery looked perfect for Aleksandar Mitrovic to add to his 27-goal tally but Blues defender Marc Roberts got there first to deflect the ball past ex-Fulham keeper Neil Etheridge and into his own net.

Wilson saw a drive ping behind off a defender on the half-hour mark and though Birmingham had kept their shape well since suffering the early setback, their defence was breached again in the 35th minute.

Again Wilson was involved on the right, this time sending defender Denis Odoi forward to launch a cross. Birmingham were caught flat-footed and Kebano raced in ahead of Maxime Colin to fire home a first-time effort past Etheridge.

Goal number three quickly followed in the 38th minute. Neeskens Kebano was involved again but it was Robinson who claimed the assist as Fabio Carvalho nipped in ahead of Teden Mengi to send a glancing header into the bottom corner.

Carvalho fired an effort at Etheridge straight after when Birmingham failed to clear their lines but Cairney scored from their next attack. Wilson, Kebano and Carvalho exchanged passes before the Fulham captain slotted in off a post while falling on his backside.

Birmingham pulled one back straight away through Ivan Sunjic, whose powerful drive from outside the box gave Fulham goalkeeper Marek Rodak no chance as it too went in off an upright.

Birmingham made it 4-2 in the 74th minute through Gardner’s precision finish. Hernandez robbed substitute Nathaniel Chalobah of possession to allow Pedersen to advance and set up Gardner for a low drive between Rodak and his left-hand post.

Fulham restored their three-goal advantage within seconds, however, when Carvalho danced along the edge of the box before planting a low drive beyond Etheridge’s reach. Robinson fizzed in another from the edge of the box in stoppage time to complete the rout.

Additional reporting by PA Media.