Fulham were held 1-1 at home in Marco Silva’s first game in charge as visitors Middlesbrough grabbed a second half equaliser.
£12 million signing Harry Wilson opened the lead for the Cottagers with a fine 20-yard strike. The Wales international arrived from Liverpool over the summer.
Silva’s side dominated possession but missed a number of good chances to double their lead after going ahead on the half hour mark.
Middlesbrough took an unexpected point 13 minutes from time when Marc Bola equalised with their only shot on target throughout the match.
The draw for the West London outfit means that none of the three teams relegated from the Premier League last season have won their 2021-22 EFL Championship season opener.
Teenager Fabio Carvalho curled a shot narrowly wide for Fulham in the second half whilst Neeskens Kebano saw a header denied by Joe Lumley. Harry Wilson and Aleksandr Mitrovic both went close to doubling Fulham’s lead before they were punished.
Bola drilled home a powerful shot past debutant Paulo Gazzaniga after substitutes Marcus Tavernier and Isaiah Jones combined to pick out their teammate.
Fulham will be looking for their first three points under Marco Silva when they go to Huddersfield Town next weekend, whilst Neil Warnock’s Boro welcome Bristol City to the Riverside Stadium.
