Dimitar Berbatov made a dream start to life at Craven Cottage on Saturday with a first-half brace against West Bromwich Albion in front of a sell-out crowd in SW6.

It took less than two minutes for Berbatov to set his sights on goal, firing just wide from close range after a confident, attacking start to proceedings by Martin Jol’s Team.

Berbatov’s first attempt on goal came after the irrepressible Damien Duff had teased his marker down the flank and set the overlapping Sascha Riether free down the right channel. Riether’s cross to the near post found Berbatov but his attempt was just off target.

Fulham made a blistering start to the game, with the home crowd enjoying Berbatov’s sublime touches in the final third of the field. However, it was not all Fulham’s way in the opening stages, as West Brom almost took the lead after nine minutes when a powerful drive from outside the right side of the area by James Morrison forced Mark Schwarzer into a fingertip save.  

Fulham produced a superb passage of play after 20 minutes that deserved a goal. Following a lengthy spell of possession and some neat interplay, orchestrated by Berbatov, Riether’s cross from the right was just out of reach for the Bulgarian striker. Fulham were certainly confident in attack and finding their stride as the minutes passed.

Four minutes later, Fulham caught West Brom on the counter attack after Steve Sidwell won possession with a superb sliding tackle. Riether charged forward and once again supplied a testing delivery from the right flank that narrowly evaded a host of players.

After 31 minutes Berbatov scored a quite beautiful goal following excellent work from Alexander Kačaniklić down the left flank to hand Fulham a 1-0 lead. The Swedish winger’s bursting run down the left saw him slalom into the area before playing a neat ball to Berbatov, 12 yards from goal. Berbatov had it all to do as the ball arrived at his feet but his right footed curling shot into the far corner of the net was simply inch perfect. The Cottage erupted in awe at a sublime strike from Fulham’s new number nine.

After 37 minutes the red mist descended on Peter Odemwingie, who inexplicably kicked out at Riether in front of Fulham’s bench. It was nothing but a straight red card for Odemwingie and moments after the player had left the pitch, Berbatov almost grabbed his second with a diving header that arrowed just wide of Ben Foster’s goal.  

As two minutes of added time were announced at Craven Cottage, Kačaniklić tormented his marker down the left flank and drew a foul in the area. It was a clear penalty and Berbatov stepped up to coolly slot the ball into the far corner of the net to earn Fulham a 2-0 lead at the break.   

Fulham certainly didn’t sit back on their lead when the second half kicked off. The first 10 minutes of play saw Jol’s Team camped in West Brom’s half, launching wave after wave of attacks.

The security Sidwell and Chris Baird provided in central midfield on Saturday really allowed Fulham’s attacking players to flourish. In fact, Fulham attacked from the back, with Riether and John Arne Riise constantly overlapping deep into West Brom’s half throughout the match.

The pace of the game dipped as the hour mark passed, with Jol’s team possessing a comfortable lead against the 10 men of West Brom, but substitute Romelu Lukaku caused a moment of concern for the home crowd after 66 minutes with a fierce drive across goal that forced Schwarzer into a diving save.

Two minutes later Berbatov looked set to score a third, when Hugo Rodallega played him through on goal. Unfortunately Berbatov was denied as he primed to shoot but Fulham looked odds on to score a third.

Sidwell was the next to try his luck with a well-placed drive to Foster’s near post from 20 yards after 70 minutes that the keeper could only parry away. Seconds later, Duff fired in a rasping drive that hit Berbatov’s head and looped over the crossbar. There was no let up, with Aaron Hughes heading just wide moments later from a Fulham corner.

After 72 minutes Duff ripped apart West Brom’s defence down the right flank before selflessly setting up Rodallega for a strike on the edge of the area. Foster was there again, parrying the ball away for a corner.

Fulham's supporters certainly enjoyed the latter stages of the game, as Jol's Team dominated every aspect of the match. It was a performance of real confidence and flair that deserved nothing less than maximum points.    

Two minutes before full-time Fulham signed off in fashion, with a third goal from Sidwell. Substitute Pajtim Kasami teased West Brom's defence down the left flank before his cross eventually fell to Sidwell, who fired home from close range. During injury time, Duff received a standing ovation as he was replaced by Academy graduate Alex Smith.