It was in the 12thminute that Fulham clicked into a smooth rhythm with some impressive passing which sent Knockaert flying down the wing, his cut back was narrowly missed by Stefan Johansen allowing Rovers to avert the threat.

Around 11 minutes later, we had a couple more narrow misses the first from Mitro closely followed by an attempt by Knockaert.

Cometh the moment, cometh the man and so it was. In the 35th minute, Captain Cairney accepting an incisive pass from the excellent Arter who skinned two defenders before providing his assist for Tom to blast into the top right corner.

When the first half of 48 minutes ended, the score remained at 1-0. In favour of the Super Whites

As the second half developed, we were by no means, having it all our own way and Adam Armstrong went close for Rovers in the 53rdminute , fortunately for us, his shot from the edge of the box crawled wide of the far-post., my thoughts were that Marcus Bettinelli had it covered.

As the game progressed there was a sense of discomfort for despite having the lion’s share of possession and playing some attractive football, Blackburn were still a threat. Then in the yellow in the 61stminute Rover’s Bradley Johnson was booked for a reckless high booted foul on Stefan Johansen, whether this had a bearing or not our favourite Norwegian was then substituted for by debutant Decordova-.

A few minutes later Rovers also made a change, bringing on Ben Brereton in place of Joe Rothwell.

We were still dominating play and making more and more forays towards the away goal when in the 65th minute, Knockaert received the ball and with a sharp swivel, took the ball onto his his left foot, rifling a shot which sailed over the bar.

Five minutes later Blackburn brought on Stuart Downing at left-back in place of Amari’I Bell, and then three minutes later Tony Mowbray brought on Danny Graham for Lewis Travis.

With 11 minutes to go Harrison Reed came on to make his Fulham debut replacing Ivan Cavaleiro, his first time against the club with whom he spent last season as a loanee.

It as with eight minutes of normal time remaining when the Whites made the all important breakthrough to score a second goal, Mitrovic bashing home with his customary aplomb from a Joe Bryan incursion which came not down the left wing but right through the middle.

Knockaert was then taken off in place of Maxie Le Marchand, receiving a well deserved a standing ovation from the by now jubilant home support.

Elliott Bennett the captain of Blackburn was shown a yellow card in the 86thminute for chopping down Mitrović, you can always rely on Mitro to give all and sundry a hard time. Very soon thereafter Decordova-Reid had a good chance but his shot was half-hearted due to the headlong rush at him by the goalie, a promising move though.

The ref added five minutes to the watch but by then we had gone into keep the ball mode and those 300 seconds passed uneventfully for us to roll out victorious with two points to add to our goal difference, nose bleed time, we have a plus sign in front of the one goal, how many times did we experience that last season?

On a very windy Saturday down by the river, the Whites ran out victors by a brace of goals against Blackburn Rovers

Scotty made three changes to the side that started at Barnsley the previous weekend with Tim Ream, Anthony Knockaert all started the game as did Harry Arter , in his first run out for the Cottagers

Scott Parker also included our deadline day newcomers Bobby Decordova-Reid and Harrison Reed their first experience of playing for the oldest club in London.

It was a windy old Staurday down by the river for our first home game of the Championship season, quite possibly an influencer, perhps not to our advantage.

At least, the two teams had something in common, we'd both lost our opening games so had the privilege of string up at most of the other 22 teams.

Welcome back to the world of being Fulhamish!

A lacklustre awayday at Barnsley, with possession stats giving a lie to the real performance on the day, then over to another game of two halves in our first home game of the season.

At the conclusion of the first 45 minutes, we could have been forgiven for, at best, a scruffy draw.

I don't know what Scotty said to them at half time but it did the trick and all of the formation inadequacies evaporated as we at last had three lines across the pitch and pushed Blackburn back, a marked improvement!

In the end, we finished the game with a comfortable two goal margin but at a gusty Craven Cottage that was not the whole story. However, as the saying goes, "it's the result that counts".

It was Fulham’s captain, Tom Cairney and Aleksandar Mitrović. who won the game for us, Tom's was a wonder goal, left footed from way out, Mitro, gleefully met a cross from Joe Bryan's incisive run down the left.

The team that lost at Barnsley had a trio of changes, with Tim Ream, Anthony Knockaert and debutant Harry Arter all given a start. All three proved their worth, the two new boys fitting in as if they'd been old hands at Fulham and Tim close to his promotion season best.

Bobby Decordova-Reid and Harrison Reed, our lastminute.com signings were also added to the line-up. and happily, unlike last seasons's massive new team, showed evidence that they ought to be welcom additions.

It wasn't all haphazrd in the first half and in the 12th minute we played some slick passing football, releasing new boy Knockaert on a foray along the line, cutting back, his pass was narrowly missed by Stefan Johansen, the ball being dealt with by the Rovers' defence.

Mitrović charged up the centre of the pitch in the 23rdminute but his shot failed to hit the target, Fulham won the ball back from the resulting goal-kick but Knockaert’s chance from inside the box was also wide.

It was a moment of Magic from Cairney in the 35th minute to break the deadlock, Arter did well to get away from two Rovers defenders and find Cairney, the captain lined up his shot and picked out the top right corner of the goal from 25 yards.

A constant threat down the right all game, Adam Armstrong went close in the 53rdminute but his shot from the edge of the box trickled wide of Marcus Bettinelli’s far-post.

Bradley Johnson picked up a yellow in the 61stminute for a high boot on Johansen, the Norwegian was then replaced by Decordova-Reid who was making his debut.

Blackburn made their first change in the 65th minute as Ben Brereton replaced Joe Rothwell.

Fulham were looking to build up the play and after some nice touches in their own half, they broke in the 65thminute, the ball eventually found Knockaert who cut in on his left foot, but his shot elevated over the crossbar.

Five minutes later Blackburn brought on Stuart Downing at left-back in place of Amari’I Bell, and then three minutes later Tony Mowbray brought on Danny Graham for Lewis Travis.

With 11 minutes to go Harrison Reed came on to make his Fulham debut, playing against the side he was on loan at last season, in place of Ivan Cavaleiro.

Fulham got their crucial second goal in the 82ndminute, Joe Bryan tore through the middle of the pitch and cut the ball back for an oncoming Mitrović who slammed home in front of the Putney End.

Maxime Le Marchand was introduced with six minutes to go, he replaced Knockaert who received a standing ovation from the Craven Cottage crowd.

Blackburn’s captain Elliott Bennett was shown a yellow card in the 86thminute for chopping down Mitrović.