MX23RW : Monday, April 14 18:39:10| >> :120:68859:68859:

Fulham boss Ranieri backs Mitrovic to end goal drought

Mitrovic has failed to score in his last six matches.

Claudio Ranieri admits that "goals are life" for a striker but is backing Fulham marksman Aleksandar Mitrovic to end his drought imminently.

Mitrovic has been on target seven times in the Cottagers' return to the Premier League but has failed to hit the target for the last six matches.

The 24-year-old Serbian was outstanding in the 1-1 Boxing Day draw with Wolves but missed several fine chances.

His next assignment is to find the net in Saturday's crucial relegation showdown against Huddersfield at Craven Cottage and Ranieri insists he is ready to start firing again.

"Aleksandar's confidence is good. Of course for a goalscorer, goals are life. But he's feeling positive," the Italian said.

"He played very well against Wolves. He was unlucky and that's the life of a striker – some days momentum goes well and on others its worse. He's ready to start scoring again.

"I want the team always to be together and he made a very good sacrifice. He closed the space and was ready to counter attack.

"It's important that the team continues to create the chances. He didn't make mistakes against Wolves, he just had bad luck."

Fulham have stitched together successive draws against Newcastle and Wolves to climb off the foot of the table, but Ranieri knows that Huddersfield is the club's critical fixture this Christmas.

"Of course we have to win, but this is a game that Huddersfield must also win. As a match it's crucial for us and for them," he said.

"The atmosphere will be fantastic, we're playing at home and we hope to give a good present to our fans.

"We're off the bottom just by one point. It's a boost but the important boost is to be like that for the whole season."

Fulham's only absentee is ankle-injury victim Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Ranieri will persist with the five-man defence that has solidified his team.

"I didn't have a friendly match to get to know all my players. I started with four at the back, but we conceded too many chances," he said.

"I tried with the five at Newcastle and thought maybe this is good for us. But of course this shape is not dogmatic.

"We can change and it's good when you can change and the players understand we can change and why. The players are intelligent and are adapting to the situation very well."

ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Duncan Bech, Press Association Sport');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', '54b3f41b-d414-4767-abc5-ae92088d1daa');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:club-news,paservice:sport:uk');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'Fulham boss Ranieri backs Mitrovic to end goal drought'});

ID:345330: cacheID:345330:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4907:
Written by
P A
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Ryan Sessegnon in action during the Premier League game between Fulham and Watford on September 22, 2018
Read Next:
Ryan Sessegnon in selection battle with Andre Schurrle for Fulham's crunch clash
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool32237274314376
2Arsenal321712357273063
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest32176951381357
4Newcastle UnitedNewcastle31175956401656
5Manchester CityMan City32167962422055
6Chelsea32159856391754
7Aston Villa3215984946354
8Fulham3113994742548
9Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton32121285149248
10Bournemouth311291051401145
11Brentford32127135248443
12Crystal Palace311110104140143
13Everton32814103438-438
14Manchester UnitedMan Utd32108143845-738
15Tottenham HotspurSpurs321141760491137
16Wolverhampton WanderersWolves32105174761-1435
17West Ham UnitedWest Ham3298153654-1835
18Ipswich TownIpswich3249193367-3421
19Leicester CityLeicester3246222772-4518
20Southampton3224262377-5410


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!