Birmingham City 1-4 Fulham: Cottagers beat Blues to return to the top of the Championship
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Denis Odoi had not scored a league goal for Fulham since hitting the winner in the Championship play-off semi-final win over Derby in May 2018
Marco Silva's Fulham beat Birmingham City comfortably at St Andrew's to return to the top of the Championship.
The Cottagers were on their way from the moment defender Denis Odoi headed home Harry Wilson's right-wing corner on 10 minutes.
Aleksandar Mitrovic then drilled home a 44th-minute penalty after Nathaniel Chalobah - their deadline-day signing from Watford - got bundled over in the box by Harlee Dean.
Fulham debutant Chalobah was also involved in Fulham's third with a superb pass for Wilson to run on and score on 54 minutes.
Jean Michael Seri then set up a second for Mitrovic on 83 minutes - the Serb's sixth goal of the season.
His brace takes him to within one goal of Reading's John Swift as Championship top scorer this season.
Blues did pull one back on 87 minutes when second-half substitute Troy Deeney scored his first goal for Blues - at the Tilton End too - from the penalty spot, after he had been dragged back by Odoi.
In stoppage time, Deeney had another header saved and Gary Gardner hit the bar.
But, despite that late rally from Lee Bowyer's men, Deeney's goal was scant consolation for Blues, who had previously only conceded three goals in six games this season, on a night when victory could have lifted them third.
Blues, who drop to 10th after only their second defeat of the season, now go to 23rd-placed Peterborough this Saturday, when Fulham host Reading.
Aleksandar Mitrovic has netted in all but two of Fulham's seven Championship matches this term
Birmingham City striker Troy Deeney told BBC Radio WM:
"Hopefully this is just a bump in the road. This is the best team we're going to play in this league by far. We had chances but they were just a bit better with their quality and calmness in the final third.
"You can turn things round really quickly in the Championship. You haven't got a week to sulk like you have in the Premier League.
"The majority of the fans stayed and that was a huge positive for us. And it was nice to get off the mark. You don't want to be waiting five or six games for your first goal.
"The last game I started was for Watford here against Coventry in January. That's two games now coming off the bench and I'm only going to get better the more I play."
Blues boss Lee Bowyer:
"Troy brings a threat, whether he's going to start or from the bench. He deserved his goal.
"It was a proud moment. He'll go home happy that he's done something that he's wanted to do from a young age."
Fulham boss Marco Silva:
"I know Mitrovic. He's a very important player for us, not just because he scores goals. The way we use him to link our game and to break the pressure and find our midfielders around him.
"He scored from the penalty in the first half and the second goal he scored was really important after 83 minutes, seeing him press the central defender to win the ball.
"I was really pleased to see that, showing to me that he's really involved in the team, not just scoring goals but pressing the opposition and all his work without the ball.
"Nathaniel Chalobah will be a really important player for us. He was a free and is a fantastic signing for us. A fantastic opportunity, the quality he has."
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