Goals from Dimitar Berbatov, Hugo Rodallega and an own goal by Joey O'Brien earned Fulham a vital 3-1 win over West Ham United.

The Whites deservedly led at the break through birthday boy Dimitar Berbatov’s 10th-minute header.

But West Ham levelled just three minutes after the restart when Kevin Nolan latched onto a quickly taken free-kick by Mark Noble to fire home.

However, the Whites regained their lead less than 60 seconds later when Rodallega met Damien Duff’s cross to head home.

With time running out, substitute Mladen Petric turned the ball over the line via O'Brien from close range after Jussi Jaaskelainen could only parry Rodallega’s shot as the Whites secured a vital three points against their London rivals.

Martin Jol made three changes from the side that lost 4-1 at Manchester United in the Fourth Round of the FA Cup with Budweiser on Saturday. In came Philippe Senderos, Giorgos Karagounis and Rodallega, with Aaron Hughes and Chris Baird dropping down to the bench. There was no place in the matchday squad for Alexander Kačaniklić.

New loan signing Emmanuel Frimpong was amongst the substitutes, where he was joined by Simon Davies, the Welshman making his first appearance in a First Team squad this season.

With both sets of fans in good voice, the match started at a frantic pace on a windy old night on the banks of the Thames. The first real effort on goal, though, came in the seventh minute, with Bryan Ruiz’s left-footed drive from 20 yards stinging the hands of Jaaskelainen after a rampaging run from Karagounis.

Three minutes later, Fulham were in front. Rodallega won a free-kick off Winston Reid and Duff’s delivery was met at the back stick, via the head of Ruiz, by Berbatov, who nodded home from just a couple of yards out. West Ham appeals for offside were waved away.

Rodallega saw an effort from just outside the box fly five yards wide on 18 minutes after West Ham had played the ball straight to him, while, at the other end, Sascha Riether did well to prevent a dangerous Joe Cole cross from reaching Matt Jarvis at the far post.

Jarvis headed a Guy Demel cross well over on 25 minutes, before Nolan nodded a Mohamed Diame delivery wide on the half-hour mark after arriving at the near post. Steve Sidwell then went into the book after a late challenge on Diame.

Fulham were denied a quick breakaway when Demel appeared to hold back Rodallega. Referee Chris Foy surprisingly ignored Fulham protests. On 39 minutes, Jaaskelainen saved at the feet of Rodallga as the Fulham man looked to get on the end of a clever scooped pass from Ruiz.

Berbatov, celebrating his 32nd birthday, almost doubled his and Fulham’s tally two minutes before the break. The Bulgarian picked up the ball on the left-hand side of the pitch and burst forward. With Cole nipping at his heels, Berbatov took aim and saw his effort fizz inches wide of Jaaskelainen’s right-hand post. It was to be the final noteworthy action of the opening 45 minutes.

The Hammers came flying out of the blocks at the start of the second half and they were level on 48 minutes. After Ruiz had fouled Diame, the quickly taken free-kick by Noble down the left channel caught the Fulham defence napping and Nolan nipped in to steer home.

But instead of being rocked by the setback, almost immediately Fulham got themselves back in front when Rodallega beat Jaaskelainen to a teasing cross from Duff to head home.

West Ham made a change on 55 minutes, replacing the ineffective Marouane Chamakh with Carlton Cole, a player with a fine goalscoring record against the Whites. Riether then went into the book on 58 minutes for catching the powerful Diame.

On the hour mark, the stretching Brede Hangeland was inches away from turning home a whipped free-kick to the back stick by Karagounis, before Nolan hit an effort straight at Mark Schwarzer after Ruiz had lost possession on the edge of the box.

The Whites made a double substitution on 65 minutes, with Baird coming on for Karagounis and Ashkan Dejagah replacing Ruiz. Nolan then went inches away from levelling after twisting past Senderos but seeing his shot flash just wide of the far post, while an effort by Berbatov with the outside of his foot wasn’t far away on 72 minutes.

After pulling up with an apparent injury, Berbatov was replaced on 75 minutes by Petric, before West Ham substitute Andy Carroll’s first involvement was to test Schwarzer with a left-footed drive from just outside the box.

The Whites could have put the game to bed with 10 minutes to go. Sidwell robbed Diame in midfield, allowing Rodallega to break. The Colombian fed Petric, who shot straight at Jaaskelainen.

But Petric made amends late on to make sure of the win. Riether had cut inside before finding Rodallega, whose shot was parried away by Jaaskelainen. With the ball heading towards the byline, Petric nipped in and saw his shot clip O'Brien and cross the line.