Fan favourite Barry Hayles made the most of a rare starting opportunity to keep Fulham top of the table with a brilliant two-goal display.

Hayles repaid the faith of new boss Jean Tigana by giving the Craven Cottage fans a dream start after just three minutes, and set the home side on the way to retaining their status as the division’s only club with a 100 per cent record.

The former Bristol Rovers hitman exchanged passes with summer signing Louis Saha, and hammered home past Stockport ‘keeper Lee Jones.

The visitors managed to claw their way back into contention within two minutes. Kevin Cooper took advantage of a slip in the Fulham defence, to head home Tony Dinning’s cross from close range.

But they never looked like having anything to show for their journey south, and were finished off by goals from John Collins – and another from Hayles.

Stockport became frustrated, and finished with just nine men after Dinning and Mike Flynn were dismissed.

Former Arsenal winger Luis Boa Morte continued his fine run of form with another impressive substitute performance, which he capped off with Fulham’s fourth on 87 minutes.

Stockport manager Andy Kilner was not a happy man after his side's 4-1 defeat against Fulham at Craven Cottage.

The visitors had Tony Dinning and Mike Quinn sent off and Kilner said: It’s hard enough to play them with 11 men.

Things just went against us and it is always difficult when you don’t get the run of the ball. For an hour we were still in the game and I was pleased with the way we played, considering we'd got nine players out injured.

Kilner was the latest manager to take a swipe a referees. He said: The referee is getting all the publicity. It keeps happening, it feeds their egos, and it's very disappointing. We worked hard but did not get a decision in our favour all afternoon.

The County boss said Fulham were the best side he had ever come up against. “They are quality, he said. I've never seen a team play like that.

Fulham: Taylor, Finnan, Brevett, Melville, Coleman, Clark, J. Collins, Hayles, Goldbaek (Boa Morte 77), Saha (Fernandes 78), Davis. Subs Not Used: Hahnemann, W. Collins, Betsy. Booked: Brevett, Davis. Goals: Hayles 3, J. Collins 59, Hayles 76, Boa Morte 87.

Stockport: Jones, Connolly, Flynn, Clark, Cooper, Moore, Maxwell (Bailey 68), Woodthorpe, Fradin, Dinning, Smith (Clare 88). Subs Not Used: Bryngelsson, Carrigan, Dibble. Sent Off: Dinning (60), Flynn (90). Booked: Flynn, Woodthorpe, Fradin, Moore, Cooper. Goals: Cooper 5.

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