Fulham survived a couple of Cardiff comebacks to seal a morale-boosting away victory at the Championship high-flyers.
Tim Ream headed in early on to give the Whites the lead, which was doubled after the break by Floyd Ayite.
Kenneth Zahore’s terrific effort from distance got Neil Warnock’s side back into the game, only for Ryan Sessegnon to restore the two-goal margin.
Cardiff set up a tense finish when Callum Paterson scored in injury time, but Stefan Johansen killed the hosts off with a fourth Fulham goal.
The Bluebirds had not lost at home in the Championship this season but were up against it when Ream found himself unmarked at the far post to score his first goal since the October 2016 west London derby against QPR.
Fulham were indebted to goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli for keeping them ahead at the break as he saved Kenneth Zahore’s header.
Ayite put Fulham 2-0 up, converting Sessegnon’s cross, but the advantage was instantly halved by Zahore’s cracking half volley.
Bettinelli then prevented an equaliser by clawing away Manga’s header as Cardiff found renewed energy.
But, having scored 12 minutes into both halves, Fulham then added a third, appropriately, 12 minutes from time – substitute Rui Fonte dropping the ball into the advanced Sessegnon, who nipped away from a defender before finishing.
Paterson’s header from a right-wing cross gave Cardiff hope but Johansen broke clear with a lung-busting run from his own half before chipping the goalkeeper.
A further fillip for Fulham was the return of Lucas Piazon, as a late substitute, after four months out with a broken leg.
Fulham: Bettinelli; Fredericks, Kalas, Ream, Odoi; Johansen, McDonald, Cairney; Ojo (Kebano 86), Ayite (Fonte 77), Sessegnon (Piazon 90).
Subs not used: Button, Djalo, De La Torre, Norwood.
This post was last modified on 26/12/2017