|
Yet in the early stages it looked as though Fulham might ruin the night for City.
Steed Malbranque silenced the home fans firing Fulham ahead inside two minutes and Malbranque, who hit a hat-trick in Sunday's FA Cup win against Charlton, came within inches of doubling the lead striking an upright with a long-range drive.
City drew level in the 20th minute when Nicolas Anelka drilled home his 11th goal of the season after being set up by Ali Benarbia's delightful through ball.
The hard-working Benarbia was rewarded with City's second which came within a minute of the restart, although there was an element of luck as the ball flew in off his shin.
City sealed victory midway through the second period when Marc-Vivien Foe scored his seventh goal in the last ten games.
Maik Taylor parried Benarbia's close-range header and Cameroon international Foe was on hand to force home the loose ball past the Fulham keeper.
Shaun Wright-Phillips completed the scoring within seconds of coming on, as he found the net with his first touch.
Richard Dunne headed on Carlo Nash's long clearance and super-sub Wright-Phillips burst clear and lobbed Taylor from just inside the penalty area.