Wolverhampton Wanderers defeated Fulham 2-0 at Molineux on Friday night to go four points clear at the top of the Championship.
The win ensures that Nuno Espirito Santo's men will be top of the second tier until after the international break, regardless of results in Saturday's games.
Goals from midfielder Romain Saiss and forward Leo Bonatini in the first half put Nuno's side in full control and Fulham had no answer as their winless run was extended to six games.
Wolves pressed for the opener early on as defender Willy Boly failed to latch on to a Barry Douglas set piece before Ruben Neves drove a low shot past David Button's post.
The hosts kept up the pressure and were ahead inside 10 minutes from their second corner as Douglas's ball in was powered past Button off the head of Romain Saiss.
Fulham midfielder Floyd Ayite then struck a shot straight at Wolves goalkeeper John Ruddy as the visitors looked for an equaliser, but their problems worsened when Douglas claimed his second assist of the evening, curling in a free kick to be nodded home by Bonatini after 26 minutes.
Slavisa Jokanovic's Cottagers had chances to reduce the arrears as Ayite and Neeskens Kebano both had a swipe at a cross before Boly cleared, but the hosts entered the break in full control.
Bonatini could have had his second five minutes into the second half, but his header - again from a Douglas set piece - was tipped wide by Button.
The Brazilian pressed further later on but could not steer a header past Button from eight yards out.
Attacking partner Diogo Jota could have netted a brace but his first touch let the Portuguese down on two occasions - he was played in by Saiss with the ball trickling under his feet, before scuffing his first touch from a Neves pass.
Fulham failed to muster a chance in the second period and their performance was summed up as defender Ryan Sessegnon had the chance to set his side on the counter-attack but was unable to take control of the ball from inside his own half.
The result leaves Fulham six points adrift of the playoff places, which could be extended to nine points ahead of the weekend's other fixtures.
Jonny Whitfield
