Match ends, Fulham 1, Stoke City 0.
FulhamFulham1StokeStoke City0
Bobby Decordova-Reid kept up his recent hot scoring spree as Fulham beat struggling Stoke City to go third in the Championship.
Stoke remain just outside the bottom three despite being on the wrong end of the Cottagers' fourth straight home league win.
Fulham lost 2-0 at Stoke on 19 October, one of only six Championship games the Potters have won this season.
But Scott Parker's side put that right - although it took until the 16th minute for the hosts to create anything memorable.
Jack Butland pulled off a fine parry to keep out a drive from Aleksandar Mitrovic, the Championship's top scorer.
Mitrovic then headed a decent chance over before Decordova-Reid broke the deadlock in the 26th minute.
Butland stretched to stop Anthony Knockaert's low shot from creeping in at the far post, but the former Bristol City and Cardiff City striker was lurking for a tap-in.
Stoke were more menacing after the break, Sam Clucas smashing a drive into the side netting and Tom Ince screwing an effort wide.
But it was Fulham left-back Joe Bryan who came closest to adding to the scoreline with a shot from a corner routine that Butland did well to tip over.
Fulham are again in home action on New Year's Day, when Stoke go to Huddersfield.
Fulham head coach Scott Parker:
"The be all and end all was to get the three points and the first 45 minutes was the best I have seen us play all year.
"The only negative I had was that we didn't go in more than one up. At half-time we knew Stoke would put us under pressure and we spoke about showing another side to us.
"We knew it might turn into a bit of a slugfest and it proved that way. What was most pleasing was that we did show that other side - sometimes I have doubted that this year."
Stoke City manager Michael O'Neill told BBC Radio Stoke:
"We're disappointed. In the second half we really pushed Fulham, and I can't fault the players for attitude and application.
"In the first half, we were second best, we were half a yard short all over the pitch. Fulham were good, they moved the ball well and we struggled to apply the pressure we would have liked.
"But on the second half performance I felt we deserved to get something from the game."
Line-ups
Fulham
Formation 4-3-3
- 12RodákBooked at 90mins
- 22Christie
- 5MawsonSubstituted forOdoiat 67'minutes
- 13Ream
- 23Bryan
- 25OnomahSubstituted forCavaleiroat 37'minutes
- 21Reed
- 10CairneySubstituted forS Sessegnonat 84'minutes
- 24Knockaert
- 9Mitrovic
- 14De Cordova-ReidBooked at 20mins
Substitutes
- 1Bettinelli
- 4Odoi
- 8Johansen
- 19Cavaleiro
- 33O'Riley
- 43S Sessegnon
- 47Kamara
Stoke
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Butland
- 14Smith
- 17ShawcrossBooked at 60mins
- 6Batth
- 3WardSubstituted forMartins Indiat 42'minutesBooked at 90mins
- 4Allen
- 24CousinsSubstituted forCampbellat 75'minutes
- 22Clucas
- 7InceBooked at 20mins
- 19GregorySubstituted forVokesat 69'minutes
- 11McClean
Substitutes
- 5Lindsay
- 9Vokes
- 15Martins Indi
- 16Davies
- 18Diouf
- 26Campbell
- 38Woods
- Referee:
- Andy Davies
- Attendance:
- 18,747
Match Stats
Home TeamFulhamAway TeamStoke
- Possession
- Home57%
- Away43%
- Shots
- Home10
- Away11
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away6
- Corners
- Home5
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home11
- Away14
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Fulham 1, Stoke City 0.
Post update
Harrison Reed (Fulham) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Sam Vokes (Stoke City).
Booking
Marek Rodák (Fulham) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Attempt missed. Sam Vokes (Stoke City) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Tommy Smith.
Post update
Attempt saved. Anthony Knockaert (Fulham) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Tim Ream.
Post update
Attempt saved. Danny Batth (Stoke City) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by James McClean with a cross.
Post update
Corner, Stoke City. Conceded by Denis Odoi.
Booking
Bruno Martins Indi (Stoke City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Anthony Knockaert (Fulham) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Bruno Martins Indi (Stoke City).
Post update
Attempt blocked. Tyrese Campbell (Stoke City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Post update
Corner, Stoke City. Conceded by Steven Sessegnon.
Post update
Corner, Stoke City. Conceded by Marek Rodák.
Post update
Attempt saved. James McClean (Stoke City) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top left corner.
Post update
Offside, Stoke City. Jack Butland tries a through ball, but Ryan Shawcross is caught offside.
Substitution
Substitution, Fulham. Steven Sessegnon replaces Tom Cairney.
Post update
Hand ball by Aleksandar Mitrovic (Fulham).
Post update
Attempt saved. Tyrese Campbell (Stoke City) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Bruno Martins Indi.
