Fulham boss backs Aleksandar Mitrovic to bounce back from penalty miss

BY RICHARD CAWLEY

Fulham manager Scott Parker has backed Aleksandar Mitrovic to bounce back from a “painful” display against Sheffield United.

The 26-year-old Serbian international failed to convert a penalty on Sunday and it was his challenge on Jack Robinson that allowed Billy Sharp to level the Premier League contest late on.

Wandsworth-born Ademola Lookman produced a searing strike to open his Whites’ goal account after his loan switch from Everton.

Mitrovic has failed to score four of his last 10 penalties.

“It was painful for him,” said Parker. “He’s scored a lot of goals for this team. Sunday wasn’t his day. But we owe a lot to him since he’s been at the football club. He’ll dust himself off and go again. He’s had an off day, there is no denying that. Alek would be the first to say that.

“He has scored a lot of penalties but in sport you have bad days.

“What’s going to be the telling factor, and the stature of the man, is how he reacts. I’ve no doubt he will react in a positive way and he’ll come back firing.”

Fulham got their first point on the board and host Crystal Palace on Saturday.

It is now seven top-flight fixtures without a victory when you factor in the end of the 2018-19 season.

But recent addition Tosin Adarabioyo impressed on his debut.

“Tosin has not been in the building long,” said Parker. “It’s the same with Ruben [Loftus-Cheek] and the same with Lookman.

“This team is going in the right direction. In the last two performances we feel a little hard done by.”