Fulham 6-2 Bristol City: Aleksandar Mitrovic's first-half hat-trick helps Cottagers go top of table
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Fulham's Aleksandar Mitrovic is the Championship top scorer with 27 goals this season
Aleksandar Mitrovic stuck a first-half hat-trick as Fulham hit Bristol City for six to return to the top of the Championship.
The Serbian now has 27 goals this season and his treble came in an enthralling opening 45 minutes that saw the Robins twice take the lead.
Antoine Semenyo scored either side of Mitrovic's first before Neeskens Kebano levelled and Fabio Carvalho put the hosts in front after 36 minutes.
Mitrovic completed his hat-trick in first-half injury time and Kebano made it six just before the hour to complete a resounding win.
Free-scoring Fulham beat Reading 7-0 in midweek and have now scored 64 goals this season - 20 more than second highest scorers Blackburn.
The game kicked off 15 minutes late due to a power failure at Craven Cottage and the visitors caught the Cottagers cold when Semenyo hit a powerful shot past Marek Rodak after seven minutes.
The hosts hit back on 21 minutes when Mitrovic headed in Tom Cairney's floated cross but the recalled Semenyo burst forward from halfway on the counter attack to fire the Robins back in front.
The lead lasted barely a minute as Kebano levelled with the next attack of the game, heading past Max O'Leary in the Robins goal.
Marco Silva's men went in front for the first time after 36 minutes though a wonderful individual effort from Carvalho, who drove at the defence before curling into the far corner to make it 3-2.
Mitrovic headed in a Cairney corner four minutes later to make it 4-2 and completed his hat-trick in first-half injury time, firing into the top corner to send the Cottagers into half-time 5-2 up after a breathless opening 45 minutes.
Kebano grabbed his second to make it six after 57 minutes, pulling Tosin Adarabioyo's ball out of the air with style before rifling home from a tight angle.
Fulham eased off the accelerator in the remaining half hour and moved to the summit of the Championship, replacing Bournemouth, who were defeated by Luton earlier in the day.
Fulham head coach Marco Silva:
"The way he (Mitrovic) scored the two headers and, after that, great finishing for the hat-trick was very, very good - his skills, his quality there, what he's capable to do in the box.
"My players know they will not score always six or seven goals. If someone expects this type of score it will be a big mistake. Of course no one inside this football club is thinking this way.
"Of course if you ask me if I'm happy with the score, it is the way you like to do it. But if in the next game we win 1-0 I will be happy."
Bristol City boss Nigel Pearson:
"We were bullied at times and it was quite evident there was a difference in quality. We conceded four goals from set plays without really laying a glove on them.
"We surrendered too easily and at times we forced the play when it wasn't on and didn't force it when we could have done.
"Mitrovic is an excellent player and it would not be fair to not recognise his qualities. But we needed to be more physical with him."