LEE BOWYER appeared to know precisely what was coming.
After his Birmingham Metropolis crew drew at Preston on Saturday, an interviewer advised him: “Fast turnaround now for the Fulham recreation on Tuesday, they’ve received 6-2 immediately…”
Bowyer winced and replied: “What’s that, 13 objectives in two video games? Trying ahead to that then.”
And so it got here to go that Birmingham suffered the identical destiny as Bristol Metropolis at Craven Cottage - a 6-2 hammering, and that on the again of Fulham’s 7-0 away thrashing of Studying the earlier Tuesday.
Marco Silva’s males are the primary English crew in 88 years to attain six objectives or extra in three consecutive matches - and have one of the best goals-per-game ratio within the nation this season.
The gubbing of Studying, after an an identical scoreline towards promotion-chasing Blackburn in November, made Fulham the Soccer League facet for the reason that Eighteen Nineties to realize two 7-0 away wins in the identical season.
With a objective distinction of +47 and 20 matches nonetheless to play, the Championship leaders are on the right track to interrupt the all-time nationwide file of +79 set by Manchester Metropolis 4 seasons in the past.
Fulham go to Pep Guardiola’s champions within the FA Cup on February 5 and, at their final three video games, delirious supporters have been singing ‘Manchester Metropolis, we’re coming for you!’ - a chant which began off with gallows humour however which has now received them questioning.
But Fulham’s final purpose for the marketing campaign is to develop into the primary English membership in historical past to yo-yo between two divisions for 5 consecutive seasons.
As a result of the whopping nice asterisk towards their current scoring sprees is that Fulham haven't even come near survival of their final two bungled makes an attempt on the Premier League.
Final season, Fulham scored simply 9 Premier League objectives on the Cottage - three fewer than they've managed within the final 4 days.
Together with Norwich Metropolis, who maintain transferring in the wrong way, Fulham are suggesting that the gulf between the highest two divisions is increased than ever.
That is, undoubtedly, an historically-poor Championship - financially battered by Covid.
Fulham are too rich, too ruthless and too good.
Probably the most exceptional facet of the Birmingham thumping is that main scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic - 27 objectives in 25 appearances - failed to attain.
The Serb’s each achievement is met with the concept that he's ‘too good for the Championship, not ok for the Premier League’.
But Mitrovic managed 11 top-flight objectives in a horrible crew three seasons in the past and final 12 months he suffered a confidence disaster - triggered by a missed penalty for Serbia towards Scotland which denied his nation qualification to the Euros - and barely began below Scott Parker.
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Underneath former Hull, Watford and Everton boss Silva, Mitrovic has been re-born - his all-round play, in addition to his prolific goalscoring, is phenomenal.
No one who watches him commonly doubts that the 27-year-old is able to being an efficient top-flight performer.
Parker’s departure to Bournemouth was borne of deep frustration with Tony Khan, who runs the membership on behalf of his father Shahid, and confirmed naivety in his method to the Premier League.
But whereas Parker made Fulham exhausting to beat in the course of the center of final season, no one on the Cottage is lacking him.
As Silva’s expansive facet play with an attractive cruelty, using an unusual bloodlust for eye-catching scorelines, it's typically famous that Parker would string 5 or 6 defenders throughout the again to guard slim leads Fulham had been final promoted.
Throughout this final extraordinary week, Fulham have scored in dizzying blitzes - 4 objectives in 13 minutes at Studying, the identical once more towards Bristol Metropolis and three objectives in eight minutes towards Brum.
At occasions, they give the impression of being as if they're using a computer-game cheat mode.
Rivals will level to the most important enjoying price range within the division - and the £12million signing of winger Harry Wilson, who scored twice and was concerned in 4 extra objectives at Studying.
But Silva has additionally revived a number of long-serving gamers wearied by Premier League humblings and snubs - wideman Neeskens Kebano, defender Tim Ream and skipper Tom Cairney are enjoying among the greatest soccer of their careers.
But Silva’s facet have suffered two critical type blips, most lately in December, main Parker’s Bourenmeouth and Blackburn by simply 5 factors.
Earlier than the Studying recreation, Fulham hadn’t received since November 20 - though three consecutive opposition sides known as off matches over the festive interval on account of Covid.
Promotion is under no circumstances assured and on Saturday we'll uncover whether or not Silva’s swashbucklers can do it on a chilly January afternoon at Stoke.
However nonetheless many goal-scoring information they shatter throughout a joyous season, Silva is aware of that ending seventeenth within the Premier League subsequent time period could be a extra important achievement than any of them.
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