Cardiff City earned the Premier League win they craved, moved off the bottom and out of the relegation places.
The Bluebirds won 4-2 thanks to goals from Josh Murphy, Bobby Decordova-Reid, Callum Paterson and Kadeem Harris.
“Cardiff had guts and determination in what was a massive match for both clubs,” said former Premier League striker Dion Dublin.
Manager Neil Warnock and his team had not won at home in the Premier League since beating Fulham in March 2014, while defeat would have left City with the worst start to a League season in their history.
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But they faced the pressure, came out battling, worked for each other and left Fulham stunned.
Cardiff travel to Liverpool next Saturday, but then have back-to-back home fixtures against Brighton and Leicester which give them real hope of adding to their points haul.
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Home fans went home happy that their team are off the mark – and can still hope for better times ahead.
While City took the points, Ryan Sessegnon is officially a Bluebirds pest after scoring Fulham’s second goal against Cardiff. It was his first goal in 10 appearances this season – and the England under-21 international has netted in all five of his appearances against City.
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The teams shared four goals in the first half with Fulham going ahead, falling behind and then hitting back through Sessegnon to tie things up.
The pace and movement of Murphy kept the visitors on edge and he caused them problems throughout the opening 45 minutes.
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Defender Calum Chambers was fortunate not to see red when Murphy went past him and seemed to be running clear when he was pulled back.
Chambers was booked, but that could so easily have been a dismissal.
Neil Warnock made two changes from the 1-0 defeat at Tottenham. Joe Ralls is suspended was replaced by Gunnarsson, while Bobby Reid took over from winger Junior Hoilett.
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Fulham selected Chambers, Kevin McDonald and Stefan Johansen in place of Cyrus Christie, Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Luciano Vietto.
Andre Schurrle fired Fulham in front after 11 minutes when hw took possession 25 yards out. There was nothing on for the German international and he let fly.
His right-footed shot flew into the top corner, giving goalkeeper Neil Etheridge no chance.
It was Murphy, easily City’s best player in the first half, who equalised on 16 minutes when he timed his run to perfection on the left-hand side and calmly fired low just inside the far post.
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Fulham looked open at the back and it was clear why they have yet to keep a clean sheet this season.
Cardiff went ahead following one of the worst set-piece plays I’ve seen for a long time. The Bluebirds had clearly worked hard on the move in training with three players involved, but they messed it up completely and a rushed shot was blocked.
Fulham, though, failed to clear and when Tim Ream let control of the ball Decordova-Reid reacted first, darted in and fired past goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli.
Fulham levelled again at 2-2 and, once again, poor defending led to the strike. Sessegnon was more determined that the defenders around him and ran in behind to finish clinically into the corner.
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City took the lead for a second time when a scrappy build-up resulted in the ball falling for Paterson. The Scottish international shot on the turn from 20 lads and his low effort went just inside a post past a despairing dive by Bettinelli.
This was a clash of two huge different playing styles. Fulham aim for fluent passing and movement, while City have a style which is far more direct and can be highly effective.
Cardiff clinched their win thanks to the class of Victor Camarasa. The Spanish midfield player won possession and when the ball reached him for a second time on the right he delivered a low cross.
Substitute Kadeem Harris, on his second Premier League appearance, appeared at the far post to fire home and score a goal which sparked wild scene of celebration among home fans.
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