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Fulham ended their play-off hoodoo in style by coming from behind to beat Derby 2-0 and put themselves one win away from the Premier League.<\/p>\nFulham ended their play-off hoodoo in style by coming from behind to beat Derby 2-0 and put themselves one win away from the Premier League.<\/p>\n
The Cottagers had not won any of their previous seven play-off ties, including Friday’s Championship semi-final first leg, but second-half goals from Ryan Sessegnon and Denis Odoi overturned a one-goal deficit at Craven Cottage and sent them to Wembley.<\/p>\n
Sessegnon, tipped for a potential summer move to a big club, will take the headlines but it was an all-out attacking display from Slavisa Jokanovic’s men, who were worthy winners.<\/p>\n
Fulham, who have only lost twice since December 16, will now meet either Aston Villa or Middlesbrough at the national stadium on May 26 and are 90 minutes away from a first return to the Premier League since 2014.<\/p>\n
The Rams would have wanted to put up more of a fight and they are condemned to an 11th successive season in the second tier.<\/p>\n
After a disappointing night at Pride Park on Friday, Fulham were desperate to wipe out their deficit as quickly as possible and they could not have wished for a better chance in only the eighth minute.<\/p>\n
The Cottagers showcased their attacking speed as they broke from a Derby corner with Aboubakar Kamara squaring for Sessegnon but the 17-year-old first touch was not great and his shot was too close to Scott Carson, who palmed behind for a corner.<\/p>\n
Aleksandar Mitrovic took a while to get into the game, but he soon became a threat and was within inches of an opener 10 minutes before half-time when he superbly turned Curtis Davies on the edge of the area and curled just wide.<\/p>\n
The only reason Fulham did not go into half-time at least a goal to the good is due to the heroics of Carson, who pulled off three top drawer saves in the space of five minutes.<\/p>\n
First he blocked Kamara’s swerving shot, then tipped over Ryan Fredericks’ dipping effort before saving the best until last when he miraculously kept out Mitrovic’s powerful header.<\/p>\n
Carson, though, was finally breached just two minutes after the restart as Sessegnon struck.<\/p>\n
A long ball in was beautifully chested down by Stefan Johansen to Sessegnon, who showed composure to slash the ball high past Carson.<\/p>\n
The onslaught continued and 19 minutes later the hosts found the goal that put Wembley in sight when Odoi climbed highest from a corner to head home into the far corner.<\/p>\n
Having turned the tie in their favour Fulham looked for the goal that would have put it to bed and Kamara had the chance as he beat an on-rushing Carson to the ball, but instead of trying to score he shamelessly dived in an attempt to get the goalkeeper sent off and was the one who was shown a card.<\/p>\n
That did not bother the home side too much, though, as their game management was impressive, failing to allow Derby to mount any serious pressure.<\/p>\n
The negotiated six nervous minutes of added time to spark a celebratory pitch invasion.<\/p>\n