Mladen Petric made a goalscoring return but a last-gasp strike by substitute Edin Dzeko earned Manchester City a 2-1 win at Fulham.

Petric slotted home from the penalty spot in the ninth minute after John Arne Riise had been fouled just inside the box by Pablo Zabaleta.

But reigning Barclays Premier League champions City levelled just before the break through Sergio Aguero and then substitute Dzeko broke Fulham hearts when he took advantage of Riise’s mistake to earn Roberto Mancini’s men the points.

Fulham Manager Martin Jol made two changes to his starting XI from the side that won 2-1 at Wigan Athletic, with Alexander Kačaniklić and the injured Dimitar Berbatov replaced by Bryan Ruiz and Petric. Kačaniklić took a place amongst the substitutes.

Fulham lined-up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Petric led the line, with Ruiz just behind and Hugo Rodallega and Damien Duff patrolling the left and right flanks respectively.

After a quiet start, the match burst into life in the ninth minute. From the middle of the park, Chris Baird played a wonderful pass out to Riise on the left. The Norway international cut inside and was dragged back by Zabaleta inches inside the box.

After a moment’s hesitation, referee Mark Halsey pointed to the spot, with Petric calmly sending Joe Hart the wrong way to put the Whites in front. It was the Croatian’s third goal for Fulham since his summer switch to SW6.

It could have been even better for Fulham on 15 minutes when Petric played Rodallega in down the left. The Colombian’s pullback was met by Petric but from eight yards he scooped his shot well over the bar.

Carlos Tevez tried to win a penalty in the 20th minute when he fell dramatically in the box after a brush from Brede Hangeland but Halsey correctly waved play on. Five minutes later Hangeland did brilliantly to clear from danger after Zabaleta got to the byline and whipped the ball into the six-yard box.

At the other end, Ruiz won a free-kick 35-yards out. Riise let fly but saw his fierce drive held by Hart. It should have been 1-1 just before the half-hour mark when David Silva’s corner was met at the far post by Aguero but the striker could only head into the side-netting.

Tevez drew the home supports’ ire on 31 when he again tumbled theatrically in the box with Riise the closest Fulham defender. Once more, Halsey waved away his protests. It looked for all the world that City would equalise on 38 minutes. Yaya Toure played Zabaleta in down the right. His pull-back was deflected towards his own net by Sascha Riether, but a combination of Mark Schwarzer and Aaron Hughes allowed the Aussie goalkeeper to claim the ball on the line.

City continued to press and moments later, Silva’s shot was brilliantly palmed away by Schwarzer. And the goal that had been coming finally arrived on 43 minutes. Tevez’s shot was deflected towards goal by Silva. Schwarzer did well to push it away but he could only knock it into the path of Aguero, who slotted home from five yards out. It was to be the final action of note from a pulsating first 45 minutes.

The second half began with Hangeland heading inches wide after meeting a Ruiz free-kick but it wasn’t until the hour mark that either side threatened again, with Aguero nodding Zabaleta’s centre just past the far post.

Both sides made changes on 65 minutes, Kačaniklić replacing Petric for Fulham, with Mario Balotelli coming on for Tevez for City. The move saw Rodallega switch to the frontman role, with Kačaniklić taking his spot on the left.

City continued to press, with Fulham getting ever deeper. Balotelli curled an effort wide on 70 minutes, before Riether helped the Whites to break with an upfield ball to Rodallega. He found Kačaniklić whose pull-back was cleared as far as Ruiz. The Costa Rican let fly from the edge of the box but Hart pushed his effort away.

With just under 10 minutes remaining, Fulham made another change. Baird, who had picked up a knock, was replaced by Georgos Karagounis as the Greek made his Whites debut.

City snatched the win with under four minutes left – and it was a horrible goal to concede. A cross into the box from Gael Clichy was headed back across his own goal by Riise. The ball hit Steve Sidwell and Dzeko swivelled to fire home, just seconds after entering the fray as a substitute.

It was cruel on Fulham who had battled all afternoon and looked set to earn a richly-deserved point for their efforts.