Josh Onomah feels right at home as Fulham take giant stride towards Wembley play-off final

Scott Parker hailed Josh Onomah's resilience after the midfielder played a starring role as Fulham put one foot in the Championship play-off final in Cardiff on Monday night.

Onomah's delightful opener, clipped past goalkeeper Alex Smithies after a weaving run through the penalty box, ensured Fulham did not miss the presence of Championship Golden Boot winner, Aleksander Mitrovic, who was absent with a hamstring problem.

Parker, who worked with Onomah during his time as a coach in the Tottenham academy, brought the midfielder to Craven Cottage at the start of this season and has been delighted with his recent upturn in form. Tuesday's solo effort was his third goal since the restart and came before Neeskens Kebano's late free-kick gave the Cottagers a two-goal cushion to take back to the capital.

Onomah suffered a sluggish start to the season before a knee operation stunted him further in February, however, with lockdown allowing him the chance to get back to fitness, he has now settled at Fulham.

In Pictures | Cardiff vs Fulham, Championship Playoff | 27/07/2020

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“He has scored some big goals," said Parker. "Josh is a young player who needed an arm around him, needed developing. He has had a few who recognised his talent like I did, I had him as a baby. I often say to players, when you are developing players a lot of it is a mentality as well."

After breaking through at Tottenham, Onomah was sent out on loan to Aston Villa and Sheffield Wednesday before Ryan Sessegnon's move to north London saw the midfielder go the other way on a permanent deal.

"He needed a bit of love and a home," said the Fulham boss. "I feel like he feels like this is his home. Sometimes you have loans and you do not really feel that it is your home. When he has needed an arm around him, which he did early on... and I keep going on about that in terms of how he struggled. Because it is that struggle is why he is here now.

"It makes me so happy for him, I am so proud of him in that sense. He really deserves what he has done. Because he could have folded at times to be honest. But he stood up and I know he will become even better than what we are seeing."

Fulham are firmly in the driving seat ahead of Thursday's second leg at Craven Cottage, when Parker hopes to welcome back Mitrovic.

Stunner: Onomah tied the Cardiff defence in knots before send a low shot past Alex Smithies
PA

Cardiff boss Neil Harris, who had spent the build-up to the first leg tagging Fulham as favourites, hit out at Parker's side, accusing them of over celebrating "as if they'd won the tie". Parker, however, insisted his players won't rest on their laurels despite a 2-0 advantage.

"Neil has said a lot over the last week and few weeks," said Parker. "I didn't see anything that was over the top, I just see a professional team that understood that there is only half of this tie done.

"Regarding the goals and the celebrations, of course, they were pleased and rightly so to score two away from home but at the end of the game I see a real professionalism from us. We understand the job that is to be done here. If Neil felt like that then I don't know why but that is it from my point."

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