At half-time here, walking in 2-0 down thanks to Glenn Murray’s ice-cold finishing as the sleet tipped down, Fulham fans will have fancied hell freezing over before their side beat the drop.
Murray’s brace meant their weak defence had conceded FIFTY-THREE in the league this term which is the worst record in Europe’s five major divisions.
Relegation looked a certainty for the cut-adrift West Londoners.
But an amazing turnaround after the break suggested all is not lost as Calum Chambers and a double from talisman Mitrovic earned a massive three points.
Sub Luciano Vietto even managed to rubberstamp the win with his first goal for the club.
It gained revenge on Brighton from the September fixture between these two at the Amex, where Chris Hughton’s men came from two down to draw 2-2 and again Murray struck twice.
Ranieri still faces a monumental task with the next four home fixtures enough to make Fulham fans feel queasy.
Man Utd, Chelsea, Liverpool and Man City are the next four visitors to Craven Cottage.
But having turned this around from such a desperate position, they can go into those fixtures full of hope that things CAN change.
All credit has to go to Ranieri, who hauled off defender Tim Ream for Tom Cairney on 26 minutes before what had to be one of the inspirational half-time teamtalks of his career.
Because his side were utterly abysmal in the first half.
The poor home fans, freezing in the falling snow, watched their cud-adrift side put up the white flag against a ruthless Albion
Murray exposed some slack marking to find the corner clinically from Martin Montoya’s cross with only three minutes played.
One became two on 17 minutes through comical circumstances as Denis Odoi’s weak clearance went to Pascal Gross, who sent it back towards goal with an overhead kick.
There was Murray, played onside by a lax Cyrus Christie, to tuck away his tenth league goal of the season.
Gareth Southgate won’t change his mind on the veteran but you wonder, were another manager in charge of England, if Murray’s hot form this season would be rewarded internationally.
The visitors should have been down to ten men on 26 minutes when Dale Stephens caught Andre Schurrle’s shin with a nasty challenge – but ref Lee Probert only issued a yellow.
Ranieri knew he had to do something and a minute later he sacrificed Ream to send on Cairney for his 150th Fulham appearance.
The hosts came close to reducing the deficit when Babel picked out fellow blast-from-the-past Schurrle at the far post, but the German’s shot was cleared off the line by Shane Duffy.
Brighton almost took a three-goal advantage into the break but mercifully for Fulham Davy Propper’s 20-yard blast thundered against the crossbar.
Ranieri brought on Vietto at half-time for Schurrle before Chambers gave drenched and downcast home fans hope when he lashed in from 20 yards two minutes later.
Fulham were level just before the hour as Brighton failed to clear and Mitrovic, seemingly wanting it more, rose highest to head home.
From that point there was only going to be one winner and Jean Michel Seri almost put them ahead when he curled against the post.
Fulham had their third on 74 minutes as Mitrovic leapt above Lewis Dunk to crash in Joe Bryan’s cross.
Cairney was keen to get in on the act and curled against the bar, before Ryan Babel diverted the rebound to Vietto who had the simple task of heading home.
It was so very nearly five soon after as Cairney once again crashed the woodwork.
In the end it was not necessary as Ranieri could finally look back on the kind of miraculous performance all Fulham fans prayed the former Leicester chief would deliver.
And it was inspired by Serbian Mitrovic – the club's very own Beast from the East.
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