Fulham have recorded an emphatic 4-0 win over Queens Park Rangers in the West London derby in the Championship at Craven Cottage.
The home side were ahead less than three minutes after kickoff as Moussa Dembele slipped between two defenders to head in from a Ben Pringle delivery, guiding the ball past Rob Green in the QPR goal.
Dembele had a chance to help the hosts double their advantage a couple of minutes later as he played the ball through to Ross McCormack, but the striker was unable to make the finish from a tight angle.
Fulham did find a second inside the opening 20 minutes as Pringle beat James Perch to the ball before smashing it into the bottom right corner from just outside the box.
QPR started to see more of the ball midway through the first half as they tried to keep themselves in the match, but Massimo Luongo blasted the ball wide, before Charlie Austin failed to connect with a Paul Konchesky delivery.
Things got worse for the visitors before the break though as a through-ball found the unmarked McCormack on the edge of the box, leaving him to roll it into the bottom corner.
QPR made a bright start to the second half as they looked to overhaul Fulham's first-half advantage, but Konchesky could only head the ball straight into the hands of Andy Lonergan.
The visitors' chances of getting back into the match were dealt a blow with half an hour remaining as Austin, who is the club's top scorer so far this season, picked up a knock and had to be replaced.
Fulham soon started to dominate again, with McCormack attempting to add his second of the night, but he also sent his finish straight to the keeper.
The striker did complete his brace soon after though as Pringle led the move for the home side, eventually setting up Dembele for the shot, which was kept out by the crossbar, but McCormack was in the right place at the right time to pounce on the rebound.
Green was tested again 10 minutes later as Fulham pushed for a fifth, but the keeper was able to stop Ryan Tunnicliffe finding the back of the net from distance.
Kit Symons's men continued to push inside the last 10 minutes as Cauley Woodrow drilled the ball towards the QPR goal, but his finish was just wide of the target.
The result lifts Fulham up to 11th in the table, one place behind QPR, who have played a match more.
Sian Cowper
