Fulham have extended their unbeaten record in the Championship to 18 matches with a 2-0 win over Leeds United in Tuesday's fixture at Craven Cottage.
Kevin McDonald gave the home side the lead in the 33rd minute before Aleksandar Mitrovic's eighth strike for the club sealed the points after the break.
Fulham now sit just five points adrift of second-placed Cardiff City, although the Welsh side do still have a game in hand.
Find out how all of the action unfolded in West London courtesy of Sports Mole's minute-by-minute updates below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the match in the Championship between Fulham and Leeds United. After Cardiff City's draw with Sheffield United last night, Fulham have been given hope in the race for second spot, but can they overcome a Leeds side who have struggled since the start of the year?
While Leeds have only won two matches since the appointment of Paul Heckingbottom, you have to go back to December for the last time that Fulham lost a match at the second tier of English football. It's a period which has included 17 games and the Cottagers are now very much regarded as the main challengers to the Bluebirds.
With less than 30 minutes to go until kickoff in West London, let's take a look at the two starting lineups, beginning with the home side...
FULHAM XI: Bettinelli; Fredericks, Odoi, Ream, Targett; McDonald, Cairney, Johansen; Ayite, Sessegnon, Mitrovic
FULHAM SUBSTITUTES: Button, Kalas, Christie, Norwood, Piazon, Kebano, Kamara
LEEDS UNITED XI: Peacock-Farrell; Berardi, Jansson, Pennington, Dallas; O'Kane, Vieira; Saiz, Hernandez, Alioski; Ekuban
LEEDS UNITED SUBSTITUTES: Lonergan, Anita, Pearce, Phillips, Cibicki, Lasogga, Grot
Let's take a look at Fulham as Slavisa Jokanovic opts to make just the one change to the team which was able to register a win away at Norwich City on Good Friday. Lucas Piazon has dropped down to the substitutes' bench, with Ryan Sessegnon being brought back into the team.
The lack of alterations comes as a surprise with Slavisa Jokanovic having claimed that his players looked tired in the victory at Carrow Road. However, would Jokanovic be able to justify making changes to a winning team? One player who was always going to start is Aleksandar Mitrovic, who has netted seven goals in 10 Championship games for the Cottagers.
Jokanovic will be hoping that Sessegnon has benefitted from his rest. Remarkably, the 17-year-old was making his first substitute appearance of the campaign when being introduced against Norwich. The young Englishman has contributed 14 goals and five assists from his 39 outings in the Championship this season.
As for Leeds, they have only made one change as well. Samuel Saiz has been brought back into the starting lineup with Pierre-Michel Lasogga having to make do with a spot among the replacements.
PREDICTION! Leeds may have returned to winning ways on Good Friday but we have to back a comfortable win for Fulham. The West Londoners have been flying, and we are going to predict that they run out 3-0 victors over the Yorkshire giants.
HEAD TO HEAD! Tonight's meeting represents the 55th competitive match between the two clubs, with Leeds claiming 22 victories in comparison to 17 wins for Fulham. However, each of the last five contests have ended in stalemate.
Leeds are unbeaten on their last three visits to Craven Cottage, which includes a 3-0 victory in March 2015. Fulham's last home win over Leeds came back in 2004.
Throughout the evening, we will look to keep you updated with the games at Molineux and Villa Park respectively, with leaders Wolverhampton Wanderers facing Hull City and Aston Villa squaring off against Reading.
It's time for the two teams to make their way out at Craven Cottage. The home supporters can sense that this may be their opportunity to put a bit of pressure on Cardiff but will their team be able to deliver the goods?
A reminder of the two teams...
FULHAM XI: Bettinelli; Fredericks, Odoi, Ream, Targett; McDonald, Cairney, Johansen; Ayite, Sessegnon, Mitrovic
LEEDS UNITED XI: Peacock-Farrell; Berardi, Jansson, Pennington, Dallas; O'Kane, Vieira; Saiz, Hernandez, Alioski; Ekuban
KICKOFF! A bit later than scheduled, but Leeds finally get us underway.
It's been a positive start from Leeds who keep hold of the ball inside the Fulham half before Dallas drills a shot harmlessly off-target. They have set out their intentions here.
It's Fulham's turn to go onto the offensive but it's not long before their attack comes to an end due to an offside.
CHANCE! The first real chance of the game goes to the home side. Targett is found on the overlap and the left-back picks out Mitrovic who is 10 yards out. However, the ball is slightly behind the forward and he fires wide. Let off for Leeds.
This match is warming up nicely. Fulham should have gone in front, but Leeds remain focused of putting together moves along the floor rather than going long to Ekuban.
Leeds win a free kick in a threatening position on the left but Hernandez's free kick is diabolical. Bettinelli makes the easy claim and Fulham are quickly back onto the attack.
WOODWORK! Fulham squander a second chance in these opening 10 minutes. Sessegnon gets to the byline and crosses for Ayite at the back post. The winger should score from no more than six yards but he strikes the post.
CHANCE! From the resulting corner, Mitrovic gets the chance to power a free header on goal but Peacock-Farrell makes the save at point-blank range. Leeds are all over the place at the back.
Leeds finally get a chance to recompose themselves as Fulham keep hold of the ball on the halfway line. It's starting to get very one-sided.
The visitors are attempting to press their hosts, but Fulham are passing the ball about far too sharply for it to be effective. No more chances to speak of for either side.
Fulham have just moved the ball about well only for McDonald's shot to be blocked on the edge of the area. Leeds have all 10 outfield players in their own defensive third.
UPDATE! There has been a goal at Molineux and Wolves have taken the lead against Hull City. The returning Diogo Jota has scored from the penalty spot.
This match has quietened down a touch, which certainly suits Leeds more so than Fulham. The visitors are finally starting to get a grip of things at the back.
SUBSTITUTION! Leeds have been forced into an early change after O'Kane picked up a knock. Phillips has been sent on in his place.
Fulham have not created anything meaningful since the 11th minute but their supporters are showing no signs of frustration. Jokanovic will also be happy to see his side remaining patient here.
The home side win a corner on the left but on this occasion, the ball into the box fails to beat the first man and Leeds are able to clear.
Not many teams have managed to nullify the threat of Mitrovic but Leeds have done that over the past 15 minutes. The Serbian is not being starved of service, he's just being outsmarted by Jansson and Pennington.
CHANCE! Much better from Fulham as Ayite finds Johansen inside the penalty area but his goalbound effort is deflected wide of the post by Jansson.
GOAL! Fulham 1-0 Leeds United (Kevin McDonald)
From the resulting corner, Fulham take the lead but it's such a lucky goal. Mitrovic met another corner with his head, before the ball diverted off Ream and onto the backside of McDonald, taking the ball away from Peacock-Farrell and into the bottom corner.
Leeds would have been content with how things were going but Heckingbottom's side must now start to look for a way back into this match. They've not threatened Bettinelli's goal since the opening minute.
UPDATE! There's been an equaliser at Molineux. Hull City have netted from the penalty spot through David Meyler. The league leaders are being held.
Leeds manage to win a corner but despite the ball into the box being glanced to the edge of the six-yard box, Fulham are able to clear without much fuss.
As we approach the break, Leeds are finally starting to put some moves together which look like they could threaten a goal. On this occasion, the ball almost fell for Saiz, but he was waiting in an offside position.
BOOKING! Jansson is the first man into the referee's notebook for dissent. The Swede was unhappy with a challenge from Fredericks, but it appeared a fair one by the right-back.
There will be four minutes of added-on time.
Since the goal, Fulham have had very little of the ball and if anything, Leeds look more likely to find an equaliser rather than Fulham add a second. It's been a good response from Heckingbottom's men.
HALF TIME: Fulham 1-0 Leeds United
The half-time whistle goes at Craven Cottage and Fulham lead thanks to that fortuitous close-range effort from McDonald. The home side deserve to be ahead but Leeds started to make a game of it before the break.
McDonald does not score that many goals but he will never net a weirder one. Mitrovic's header was going to find the corner before it hit Ream, whose deflection would have taken the ball into the net as well. However, it was McDonald who got the final touch with his backside as he was looking in the opposite direction.
Fulham have had other chances to score through Mitrovic and Ayite but Leeds found a way to keep it to just the one goal. However, the Yorkshire giants are still looking to bring a save out of Bettinelli, who has had very little to do.
In the other games at the top of the table, Wolves remain level with Hull while Aston Villa are goalless with Reading. Fulham would be delighted if both matches remained the same.
The two teams are making their way back out. No more changes from either side.
KICKOFF! Fulham get us underway.
UPDATE! Villa have taken the lead against Reading. Fulham won't like that scoreline so much, but Jokanovic's men have started this second half on the front foot.
Leeds are also having their own moments at the start of this second half but they still don't necessarily look like creating a clear-cut chance. It surely won't be long before Lasogga is introduced.
We are still awaiting the first chance of this second half, but the match is lively all the same. Heckingbottom must have gotten into his players at the break because there is a lot more urgency.
Better from Fulham, who manage to work the ball to the right-hand side where Ayite is waiting. However, the winger's effort across goal is deflected behind for a corner, which comes to nothing.
Alioski and Saiz are starting to look like they might be able to do something for Leeds but all too often, the final ball is poor. From the outside, there appears little reason why Heckingbottom is not making a change in the final third.
CHANCE! Wow. Sessegnon is teed up inside the penalty area and his shot is heading towards the far corner. However, Mitrovic gets in the way and diverts the ball behind for a goal kick!
SAVE! What a save from Peacock-Farrell. Sessegnon is again found in the penalty area and his effort - with his weaker right foot - is heading inside the near post, but the young goalkeeper got himself in the way.
Back up the other end, there's more probing from Leeds but they are still getting nothing going. Easy work for Odoi and Ream.
GOAL! Fulham 2-0 Leeds United (Aleksandar Mitrovic)
This is unbelievable. Ekuban is denied from 12 yards by a stunning block from Bettinelli and literally just 14 seconds later, Mitrovic slides the ball into the bottom corner at the other end to double Fulham's advantage.
UPDATE! Before that goal, Villa found the net for the second time against Reading through Hourihane. Both Fulham and Villa are going to make up ground on Cardiff this evening.
SUBSTITUTION! Jokanovic opts to make his first change of the night, with Norwood coming on for Ayite.
BOOKING! Bettinelli has been harshly booked for time-wasting. The referee is obviously trying to make a point but surely it's not right when the goalkeeper has done nothing out of the ordinary!
BOOKING! McDonald joins his teammate after a poor challenge in the middle of the park.
Aside from the bookings and substitutions, nothing much has happened since the second goal. Heckingbottom is still biding his time before a second change.
SUBSTITUTIONS! Maybe he isn't. Lasogga is coming on for Ekuban and Grot is replacing Alioski.
Fulham may hold a two-goal advantage but right-back Fredericks is effectively playing as a winger. Shortly after firing into the side-netting from an acute angle, he saw a cross into the box well defended by Jansson.
How has Dallas got away with this? The Leeds player tries to earn a penalty for his side by flicking the ball past Bettinelli and diving - blatantly diving - into the goalkeeper's hand, but the referee opts to do nothing and award a goal kick.
BOOKING! Another booking for Fulham after a crude tackle on Lasogga by Johansen.
CHANCE! We have another contender for miss of the season. Grot is found all on his own inside the six-yard box but the substitute heads over the bar from no more than four yards out.
To their credit, Leeds are starting to push - just like they did at this stage in the first half - but you would think that Grot had to score there for the visitors to have any chance of a revival.
UPDATE! It's all going on at Molineux. Hull went in front in the 78th minute but five minutes later, Wolves were back on level terms.
Just the four minutes plus added-on time to go now. Leeds will have to play it with 10 men because Pennington has picked up an injury.
SUBSTITUTION! Another change for Fulham as Kalas replaces McDonald.
Leeds win another corner on the left but Fulham get the ball away. This game is starting to peter out now. There will be five minutes of added-on time.
SHOT! Leeds win a free kick on the edge of the area and Hernandez's effort looks like it is going to find the bottom corner. However, the ball goes agonisingly wide of the post.
BOOKING! Phillips picks up a late caution for a foul on Cairney.
FULL TIME: Fulham 2-0 Leeds United
The full-time whistle goes at Craven Cottage and goals from McDonald and Mitrovic have earned Fulham another three points. The Cottagers now sit just five points adrift of Cardiff, while they have also been handed a boost after Wolves could only draw with Hull City.
That will be all from Sports Mole for this match. Thank you for joining us this evening and we hope to see you again soon.
If you would like to read our on-the-whistle report, you can do so by clicking here. Goodbye for now.
Written by
Darren Plant
Darren Plant
