Fonte scores as dominant Fulham win at Ipswich
Ipswich 0 Fulham 2
Summer signing Rui Fonte scored his first goal for Fulham as the much-improved Whites picked up their first league win of the season.
Goals either side of half-time were enough to hand a first defeat to the joint-leaders as the Portuguese striker impressively lashed in the rebound to a parried shot from Neeskens Kebano, who had headed Fulham in front before the break.
Having struggled to finish chances against Sheffield Wednesday a week earlier, the visitors were guilty of being wasteful in front of goal again but converted when it mattered while defending Ipswich’s counter-attacks resolutely.
With the home team sitting back, the Whites dominated both periods, controlling play in midfield and using the wide threats of full-backs Ryan Sessegnon and Ryan Fredericks, whose floated cross was nodded home at the back post by an unmarked Kebano on the 35-minute mark.
Earlier, Fredericks went close himself after Tom Cairney laid the ball off on the edge of the box, only for the defender’s low drive to clip the outside of the post with keeper Bartosz Bialkowski beaten.
Fonte, who had to be taken off injured midway through the second half, also hit the woodwork five minutes before the break with an improvised volley after good work down the left by Sessegnon.
But the 27-year-old opened his Fulham account in style following a slick turn and shot from Kebano, firing into the roof of the net from an acute angle.
Fulham (4-3-3): Button; Fredericks, Kalas, Ream, Sessegnon; McDonald, Johansen (Odoi 90’), Cairney; Ojo, Fonte (Kamara 76’), Kebano (Norwood 82’)
Subs not used: Bettinelli, Djaló, Edun, Cissé.
