Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic netted his 40th goal of the season in a 3-0 win over Preston North End on Tuesday. In the process, he edged even closer to a remarkable record that has stood for 29 years.
This season, the Serbian has been in sensational form for Marco Silva‘s side. After only scoring three Premier League goals last season as the Cottagers were relegated, Mitrovic had something of a point to prove this term.
Fans expected the 27-year-old to tear apart the second tier. The last time he played in the division, during the 2019/20 season, Mitrovic smashed in 26 goals from 41 appearances. Fulham gained promotion via the play-offs.
However, his numbers this season are eye-wateringly impressive. Mitrovic didn’t score in his side’s opening game of the season. But he soon made up for that, netting six goals in his subsequent five appearances.
Mitrovic has three hat-tricks to his name this season, against Bristol City, West Brom and Swansea. Even more remarkably, he has scored two or more goals in 11 games.
Mitrovic has already smashed a Championship record
The Serbian international’s goal ratio remains at one goal a game. It is a remarkable feat, given that just four matches are remaining in Fulham’s season, and Mitrovic has missed just two games.
The record for most Championship goals – since the 2004/05 rebrand – was held by Ivan Toney. He hit 30 goals last season as Brentford earned promotion to the top flight.
It is a measure of how good Mitrovic has been this campaign that he broke that particular record on February 23. Since then, he hasn’t let up, netting another nine times. In addition, Fulham’s promotion was sealed with the 3-0 win over North End over Craven Cottage.
What record is next for Aleksandar Mitrovic?
With four games still to play, the 27-year-old has a very real chance of breaking a second-tier record that has stood for a remarkable 29 years.
Former Portsmouth striker Guy Whittingham struck 42 goals in the 1992/93 season. Unfortunately for Pompey, his goals were not enough to see them promoted, as they missed out on goals scored.
Whittingham holds the second-tier record since the Football League introduced 46 games. Brian Clough, meanwhile, also scored 42 goals in a single season in his Middlesbrough playing days.
Looking further back, Mitrovic could also break past the 43 goal figure, which is the amount that Tommy Johnson scored back in the 1956/57 season. He scored those goals for two clubs, featuring for Blackburn Rovers and Leyton Orient.
The Fulham goalscoring record is 43 goals, as per The Athletic’s Peter Rutzler. Frank Newton reached that tally in the 1931/32 season.
Middlesbrough forward George Camsell, meanwhile, holds the all-time goalscoring record for the second tier. He smashed in an incredible 59 goals in the 1926/27 season.
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