Fulham 4-0 Sheffield Wednesday

Summer signing Ross McCormack has scored six goals for Fulham this season

Fulham's steady climb up the table continued as they eased to victory over Sheffield Wednesday at Craven Cottage.

The Cottagers were bottom on 22 September but their fortunes have improved markedly under new manager Kit Symons, with the side now 13th.

Ross McCormack scored the opener with a 25-yard free-kick before Shaun Hutchinson made it 2-0 with a header.

Lasse Vigen Christensen added a third with a firm strike and Cauley Woodrow completed the rout with a late penalty.

The victory was Fulham's fourth in six league games - form that is in stark contrast to the start of the season when they sat with one point from the first eight games.

Wednesday, now behind Fulham on goal difference in 14th, had chances to score before Fulham's first.

Tom Lees failed to get a good connection at the far post when free, before Marcus Bettinelli made a good save to keep out Chris Maguire's drive and Kostas Stafylidis cleared off the line from Stevie May.

Fulham finally broke the deadlock in the 34th minute when McCormack fired in a superb free-kick after Glenn Loovens had conceded the foul.

Hutchinson doubled the advantage when he nodded in from Bryan Ruiz's free-kick for his first goal for the club.

The third came midway through the second half as Christensen converted from Hugo Rodallega's pass, before Woodrow added a fourth from the spot after Patrick Roberts had been fouled by Claude Dielna.

Fulham manager Kit Symons said:

"That's two clean sheets in a row and if we could get more of them then that's a habit I would be happy with. We have sent the fans home happy, it was a good performance and a great clean sheet.

"We took our chances when they came and that's important. We played some good stuff and to score four goals, you have to be pleased."

On speculation striker Ross McCormack could leave the club in January, Symons added: "Stories will be written about players because they're playing well. We love him as a lad and as a player and we're delighted to have him here. He was very good again.

"The chairman is very supportive of doing the right things for the football club - and that's keeping our best players. From a club point of view there's nothing from us about selling Ross and nor do we want to."

Sheffield Wednesday manager Stuart Gray said:

"The worrying thing is we are not putting ball in the back of net and giving Keiren Westwood and the back four a breather.

"We dominated the ball and created chance after chance. Every day we do crossing and finishing and we have to have desire to get the ball in the box.

"Ross McCormack showed the quality he has got and we ended up conceding three goals from set-plays."