Fulham forward Aleksandar Mitrovic broke the single-season record for goals scored in the Championship while delivering the Cottagers the title with a thumping win over promotion hopefuls Luton Town.
An already-promoted Fulham romped their way to the Championship crown with a 7-0 win against Luton Town. The Cottagers became the first team in two decades to score over 100 goals in the 46-game competition. With one game remaining before the end of the season, their tally stands at an incredible 106 in the “goals for” column.
A brace at Craven Cottage on Monday ensured that Mitrovic broke the single-season record for most goals scored in the Championship. His 43rd goal of the campaign meant he overtook Portsmouth’s Guy Whittingham, who had initially set the record with 42 strikes in 1992/93. The Serbia international spoke of the “special” occasion, claiming that it was a perfect night for his side:
“I always say that I don’t try and think about the record but when you get close everybody starts talking so of course, I wanted to break it. And today it happened and it was special. So I think the season has finished just how we wanted it to in our dreams, with a big win at home in front of our crowd. And I broke the record so everything was perfect.”
With the top spot and the bottom three filled – Derby County, Barnsley, and Peterborough United the unfortunate ones – the focus turns to the promotion picture. Three clubs are ensured of at least a spot in the promotion playoffs, but any one of the three in question can still advance to the Premier League automatically.
Seventy-nine points, but having played a game more, means Huddersfield Town have to rely upon results elsewhere to go their way if they are to miraculously steal the second spot on the final day of the campaign.
2021/22 Championship top 6
# | Team | Matches played | Goal difference | Points |
1 | Fulham | 45 | +67 | 90 |
2 | Bournemouth | 44 | +33 | 82 |
3 | Nottingham Forest | 44 | +34 | 79 |
4 | Huddersfield Town | 45 | +15 | 79 |
5 | Sheffield United | 45 | +14 | 72 |
6 | Luton Town | 45 | +7 | 72 |
However, Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth can still hope to avoid the playoff process; the two face each other on the penultimate matchday of the competition, and while the Cherries lead Forest by three points, a win for the latter will swing the pendulum in their favor at the eleventh hour.
Further downward, Luton, Sheffield United, Middlesbrough, and Milwall are still looking to lock a spot at the end of the season playoffs. The former two are currently occupying the fifth and the sixth spot, respectively, in the league table with a game to go.