Half-time: Fulham 1 Bristol City 0

Ross McCormack’s superb third-minute lob gave Fulham a deserved lead in a first half they dominated.

Fellow Championship strugglers Bristol City did have the first shot of the game, but Whites keeper Andy Lonergan blocked Joe Bryan’s effort.

And within seconds, Fulham were ahead. Michael Madl’s ball sent McCormack away in the right-hand channel and he showed tremendous vision to guide the ball over Robins keeper Richard O’Donnell and it at the far post.

The hosts visibly relaxed after the goal and McCormack tried a similarly ambitious effort when he sent a free-kick from more than 30 yards just wide.

Scott Parker and Tom Cairney both had shots from distance saved rather unconvincingly by O’Donnell as Fulham continued to play with confidence.

As the half wore on, though, they began to let their standards drop and City forced a couple of corners, Nathan Baker heading one wide under pressure.

McCormack remained Fulham’s biggest threat and he curled a free-kick narrowly over five minutes before the break.

Fulham: Lonergan; Madl, Burn, Amorebieta; Fredericks, Parker, Tunnicliffe, Cairney, Garbutt; McCormack, Dembele.
Subs: Bettinelli, Richards, Ream, O’Hara, Hyndman, Smith, Woodrow.

Bristol City: O’Donnell; Matthews, Flint, Baker, Golbourne; Freeman, Pack, Bryan, Tomlin; Wilbraham, Kodjia.
Subs: Fielding, Ayling, Pearce, Reid, Wagstaff, Agard, Odemwingie.