Fulham beats Derby to book spot in Championship play-off final

Fulham is one match away from a Premier League return.

The Cottagers deservedly overcame Derby County in the second leg of their Championship play-off semi-final on Monday, thereby securing a place in Wembley's money-spinning showpiece on May 26.

Derby won the first meeting 1-0 at Pride Park, but Fulham overturned that scoreline with second-half goals from 17-year-old Ryan Sessegnon and Denis Odoi.

Fulham was relegated from the Premier League in 2014, but began to make serious strides towards the promised land during 2016-17, Slavisa Jokanovic's first full season in charge. Last campaign's pursuit fell short via a play-off semi-final defeat to Jaap Stam's Reading, but this time Jokanovic's side was able to overcome a stubborn backline and book a place in the final.

The capital outfit will take on either Aston Villa or Middlesbrough at the Home of Football, with the former enjoying a 1-0 advantage ahead of the pair's second tussle in Birmingham on Tuesday.

Fulham was the superior team in the opening stanza, but failed to breach Scott Carson and his defence. Aleksandar Mitrovic came closest when Carson impressively repelled a header from the in-form Serb.

The evening was in danger of being similar to the first leg, when Fulham failed to break down Derby, but Sessegnon's composed wallop into the top corner and Odoi's flicked near-post header flipped the tie.

Mitrovic and Aboubakar Kamara had further chances to extend Fulham's lead, as Derby's response was rather futile. The win ensured Fulham will finish its campaign having gone unbeaten at Craven Cottage since October.

There are no surviving members of the squad that descended from the Premier League following a turbulent 2013-14 season, and the final will mark the first time Fulham has been to Wembley in 43 years.