Fulham ended a run of seven league matches without a win thanks to a resounding 3-0 victory over Swansea at the Liberty Stadium.
Martin Jol’s side had dropped close to the bottom three having lost six games during that period but they ended the campaign with a flourish in Wales on Sunday.
Swansea dominated throughout, playing some excellent football, but failed to take their chances as Alex Kacaniklic, Dimitar Berbatov and Urby Emanuelson grabbed the goals.
Both managers made three changes to their respective teams as Michel Vorm returned in goal for Swansea, and Emmanuel Frimpong was handed just his second league start of the season for the visitors.
The opening 10 minutes saw both sides create chances, with Michu and Pablo Hernandez both missing good opportunities while John-Arne Riise’s low free-kick was tipped wide of the left-hand post by Vorm.
Swansea looked to be in absolute control when Pablo hit a shot just wide from the edge of the area after a wayward pass from Philippe Senderos, but Fulham soon capitalised on their hosts’ profligacy.
Ashley Williams was robbed of possession near the centre circle, allowing Bryan Ruiz to poke the ball to Eyong Enoh. The midfielder played a perfect through-ball down the centre for Kacaniklic, who struck a powerful left-footed shot into the bottom right corner.
The hosts looked dangerous going forward, but in defence they were all over the place, and Fulham cut them open again in the centre just after the half-hour mark only for Kacaniklic’s flicked shot to hit the post.
Swansea showcased some delightful flowing moves as the first half neared its end, but they had no luck in breaking down an impenetrable Fulham defence as the visitors took a 1-0 lead into the break.
The second half began much like the first had ended, with Swansea well on top. However, their early chances fell to the wrong men as Angel Rangel had a shot tipped wide from a narrow angle, while Chico Flores mishit a volley straight at Mark Schwarzer from seven yards out.
The hosts’ best chance came just before the 60th minute, as Rangel flicked Leon Britton’s pass into the areabut Pablo hit his shot straight at Schwarzer.
With 20 minutes left Jonathan de Guzman chipped a pass to the far post from deep, but Routledge could only hit the side of the post from a tight angle as luck continued to evade Michael Laudrup’s team.
Despite all of Swansea’s pressure, Fulham doubled their lead with 12 minutes remaining when Ruiz slipped a well-timed through-ball into the right channel behind the hosts’ defence and Berbatov nonchalantly took it round Vorm before passing into an empty net.
Fulham then added a third in stoppage time as Emanuelson tapped in a rebound after Kacaniklic's shot was saved by Vorm.
