Half-time: Fulham 0 Man City 2

Goals from Yaya Toure and Vincent Kompany have put Manchester City into a commanding half-time lead at Craven Cottage.

Toure opened the scoring midway through the first half with a superb free-kick from the edge of the box.

Kompany then doubled the lead from close range after Fulham keeper Maarten Stekelenburg parried Martin Demichelis’s header into his path.

The scoreline is harsh on Fulham who have played attractive, high-tempo football but have been unable to beat the recalled City keeper Joe Hart, or cope with the visitors’ attacking prowess.

Adel Taarabt, playing in an unfamiliar lone striker role with Dimitar Berbatov injured, has been Fulham’s most influential player, with no fewer than five attempts on goal in the first half alone.

Two of them, either side of City’s opener, produced fine saves from Hart as Fulham underlined their renewed confidence under boss Rene Meulensteen.

But the visitors have looked a constant threat when they’ve gone forward.

David Silva hit the bar early on and was then upended by Steve Sidwell for the free-kick from which Toure scored.

Stekelenburg made a smart stop at his near post to keep out Edin Dzeko and likewise denied Demichelis, only to see Kompany snap up the rebound.

To add to Fulham’s woes, Philippe Senderos went off during the first half with an injury.

Fulham (4-5-1): Stekelenburg; Riether, Senderos (Amorebieta 36), Hughes, Riise; Dejagah, Karagounis, Parker, Sidwell, Richardson; Taarabt.
Subs: Stockdale, Kasami, Kacaniklic, Duff, Ruiz, Bent.

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