Aleksandar Mitrovic took his Championship goal tally to 27 for the season after hitting a first half hat-trick in Fulham’s 6-2 victory over Bristol City at Craven Cottage.
The win, which came on the back of the Cottagers’ 7-0 win at Reading in midweek, ensured Marco Silva’s side took full advantage of Bournemouth’s earlier defeat at Luton to move top of the table.
The outcome was decided in a thrilling first half in which Nigel Pearson’s visitors twice took the lead through Antoine Semenyo before reaching the interval trailing by three goals after four Fulham goals in 14 minutes.
Neeskens Kebano and Fabio Carvalho added to Mitrovic’s treble with Kebano adding his second after the break to complete the win.
Silva’s side have now scored 64 goals in 25 matches – 20 more than any of their rivals.
Aleksandar Mitrovic celebrates his first goal against Bristol City
There were few signs of what was to come when Semenyo capped his side’s positive start with opening goal in the seventh minute.
The chance arose after the visitors staged a swift counter-attack with Alex Scott releasing Semenyo to run into the area and drill a rising left foot shot inside the near post.
