Aleksandar Mitrovic’s penalty cemented Fulham’s Championship play-off place in a 2-0 win over promotion rivals Cardiff City.
Serbia hitman Mitrovic marked his return from a three-match ban with a bullet spot-kick at Craven Cottage as Fulham sealed a fourth straight league win.
Josh Onomah later fired his third goal of the season to rubber-stamp a crucial victory for Scott Parker’s men.
Fulham’s latest win will keep the pressure on the league’s top two Leeds and West Brom, but boss Parker will surely be delighted to have secured a play-off place.
Mitrovic edged back to the top of the league’s scoring charts with his 24th goal of the campaign, inching ahead of Brentford’s Ollie Watkins again.
The 25-year-old had played the villain with his retrospective ban for an ugly elbow on Ben White in Fulham’s 3-0 defeat at Leeds on June 27.
Fulham pulled off wins over QPR, Birmingham and Nottingham Forest in his absence, however – all without a recognised striker.
And while Parker’s men still struggled for fluency, both the result and Mitrovic’s goal will have Fulham buoyed up for a strong finish to the campaign.
The visitors were left to rue Joe Ralls failing with two first-half chances, with Neil Harris’ side unable to threaten after the break.
Fulham’s first genuine chance proved to be Mitrovic’s penalty. Dion Sanderson tangled with Mitrovic in the area though, and the resulting spot-kick changed the entire game’s complexion.
Harry Arter’s errant pass had gifted Nathaniel Mendez-Laing a run on goal, but the Bluebirds forward drilled straight at Marek Rodak.
Fulham’s galvanised Cardiff again, and Anthony Knockaert received a fully deserved yellow card for taking out the breaking Mendez-Laing.
The hosts were left furious not to earn a second penalty, when a Joe Bryan cross appeared to strike Curtis Nelson’s arm – with Mitrovic then claiming he was fouled by Will Vaulks in the ensuing melee.
