Aleksandar Mitrovic: Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday icon whose goal record Fulham star is chasing
After smashing – nay, obliterating – the record for Championship goals in a season, Aleksandar Mitrovic has a familiar face’s target in his sights when Fulham face Sheffield United at Bramall Lane this weekend.
The Serb’s two goals in Fulham’s 7-0 win over Luton on Monday evening, which confirmed the Londoners as Championship winners, took his tally to a remarkable 43 for the season – with one game remaining, against the Blades.
Guy Whittingham’s 42 goals for Portsmouth in 1992-93 was previously the most in the current 46-game league format.
The next target for Mitrovic to achieve is Derek Dooley’s 46 for Sheffield Wednesday in 1951/52, which is the post-war record high for the second tier. To make it even more impressive, the future United chairman achieved the feat in a 42-game season.
To get there, Mitrovic will need to score his fourth hat-trick of the season at Bramall Lane, but United did manage to keep him quiet in the return leg at Craven Cottage - a 1-0 Blades win.
Mitrovic has scored against 20 different opponents this season and averages one goal every 93 minutes. All 43 of his goals have come inside the penalty area, including six penalties.
"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," Mitrovic said.
"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."