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Reuters
Reuters
Sport

Watford held at Fulham after Mitrovic strikes again

Soccer Football - Premier League - Fulham v Watford - Craven Cottage, London, Britain - September 22, 2018 Fulham's Aleksandar Mitrovic celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/David Klein

(Reuters) - Fulham's Aleksandar Mitrovic hit the target again as they came from behind to earn a 1-1 home Premier League draw against a high-flying Watford side left cursing too many missed first-half chances on Saturday.

Watford's best start to a top-flight campaign had looked set to continue as Andre Gray's goal after 90 seconds, when he cashed in with a sharp finish after poor Fulham defending, saw them take command in the first half.

Javi Gracia's team, unchanged for the sixth league game, showed why they have been the season's revelation and looked set for a fifth win in six matches only to spurn several fine chances offered largely by inept home defending.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Fulham v Watford - Craven Cottage, London, Britain - September 22, 2018 Fulham's Jean Michael Seri in action with Watford's Abdoulaye Doucoure REUTERS/David Klein

Yet Fulham were re-energised by a tactical reshuffle after the break with Serbia striker Mitrovic becoming joint league top scorer with his fifth goal of the season in the 78th minute.

He almost got the winner with a late header that brought a brilliant point-blank save from Ben Foster and rattled the bar.

Gracia, whose side had lost their unbeaten record against Manchester United the previous weekend, told Sky Sports: "We had chances in the first half to kill the game. We didn't do it in the second and made a mistake.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Fulham v Watford - Craven Cottage, London, Britain - September 22, 2018 Watford's Etienne Capoue in action with Fulham's Aleksandar Mitrovic Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs

"We are a little bit disappointed with just one point."

Watford were fourth in the standings on 13 points from six games, while Fulham stood in 15th place with five points before the rest of the weekend's Premier League programme.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Fulham v Watford - Craven Cottage, London, Britain - September 22, 2018 Fulham's Marcus Bettinelli in action REUTERS/David Klein

FOCAL POINT

Mitrovic again proved the focal point of Fulham's comeback after manager Slavisa Jokanovic had made tactical changes at halftime that rejuvenated his side.

His sharp, close-range finish was his 17th league goal since his Fulham debut at the start of the year.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Fulham v Watford - Craven Cottage, London, Britain - September 22, 2018 Watford's Andre Gray celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs

No player has scored more league goals across the top four tiers of the English game during that period.

The powerful Serb twice went close to sealing the points, with Foster, having tipped his header against the bar, making another fine save from Mitrovic's left-foot shot.

Watford striker Troy Deeney said he may have suffered broken bones in his foot and was going for an x-ray.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Fulham v Watford - Craven Cottage, London, Britain - September 22, 2018 Watford manager Javi Gracia during the match Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs

"It is what it is, probably a couple of broken bones. I'm a big ugly boy though, I'll be fine," Deeney told Sky Sports, adding he had played with three broken toes the previous week.

Deeney, an old friend of Britain's world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, said he was confident the injury would not stop him gong to see "AJ" fighting Russian Alexander Povetkin at Wembley later on Saturday.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Fulham v Watford - Craven Cottage, London, Britain - September 22, 2018 Fulham manager Slavisa Jokanovic looks on during the match REUTERS/David Klein

(Reporting by Ian Chadband; Editing by Ken Ferris)

Soccer Football - Premier League - Fulham v Watford - Craven Cottage, London, Britain - September 22, 2018 Fulham's Ryan Sessegnon during the match Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs
Soccer Football - Premier League - Fulham v Watford - Craven Cottage, London, Britain - September 22, 2018 Watford's Troy Deeney reacts to Fulham's Alfie Mawson after a foul on Watford's Roberto Pereyra Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs
Soccer Football - Premier League - Fulham v Watford - Craven Cottage, London, Britain - September 22, 2018 Watford's Ben Foster in action REUTERS/David Klein
Soccer Football - Premier League - Fulham v Watford - Craven Cottage, London, Britain - September 22, 2018 Fulham's Aleksandar Mitrovic scores their first goal REUTERS/David Klein
Soccer Football - Premier League - Fulham v Watford - Craven Cottage, London, Britain - September 22, 2018 Fulham's Aleksandar Mitrovic celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/David Klein
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