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Aleksandar Mitrovic scored 12 goals in 20 games for Fulham during an initial loan spell from Newcastle United

Fulham moved to within two points of the automatic promotion places as Aleksandar Mitrovic's double gave them victory at Swansea City.

Scott Parker's team claimed a fourth successive Championship win but they were made to work for it by a spirited Swansea side.

Mitrovic, the Championship's leading scorer, took his club tally this season to 15 goals thanks to two first-half strikes.

The powerful Serb headed his team in front on 22 minutes and then doubled their advantage with a cool finish shortly before half-time.

Swansea were unfortunate to be two goals down having been the better side for long periods, and they deservedly got back into the game through George Byers' 65th-minute header.

But Fulham, who are third in the table, held on to close the gap on second-placed Leeds, while Swansea remain sixth.

The Swans are the only side in all three divisions of the EFL who are yet to lose an away league game this season - but they have found points hard to come by on their own patch in recent times.

Having not lost a home league game between December 2018 and September 2019, they have now won just one of their past seven second-tier outings in south Wales.

Yet Fulham were under pressure in the early stages as Swansea began with purpose.

A flowing Swansea move ended with Andre Ayew crossing for Sam Surridge, but his effort was saved at point-blank range by Marek Rodak.

Fulham's goalkeeper was in action again seconds later, pushing away Kyle Naughton's curling shot, before Rodak's sliced clearance almost led to a spectacular Swansea opener.

Matt Grimes did well to volley the ball into Byers' path and his long-range drive hit the outside of the post.

Kristoffer Peterson then fizzed a shot over, but it was Fulham who found a path to goal in their first notable attack.

When Aboubakar Kamara volleyed Joe Bryan's inviting cross on to the crossbar, the rebound fell perfectly for Mitrovic to head home.

Swansea tried to respond, with Byers forcing another smart save from Rodak before Ayew's overhead kick flew straight into the Slovakian's arms.

Having soaked up the pressure, Fulham showed their clinical streak once more to make it 2-0.

Peterson was at fault, the Swansea winger gifting possession to Josh Onomah deep in his own half.

He fed Ivan Cavaleiro, whose return pass was missed by Onomah but rolled into the path of Mitrovic.

The former Newcastle frontman gobbled up his second opportunity of the night, lifting a shot beyond Freddie Woodman and into the roof of the net.

Fulham were first to threaten in the second period as Cavaleiro's shot was well saved, then Rodak leapt to his left to repel another effort from the lively Byers.

The Swansea midfielder eventually got his reward for an all-action display from substitute Barrie McKay's cross, with Rodak finally beaten as he palmed Byers' header into the net.

Buoyed by the goal, Swansea pushed for an equaliser with Byers threatening once again, but Fulham stood firm to maintain their impressive form.

Swansea head coach Steve Cooper said: "We know where we are at as a club. We came up against a team who could compete in the Premier League - certainly the investment that has gone into their squad is a Premier League budget - and we made them look ordinary on so many occasions.

"But we have not taken the chances and given away, particularly the second goal, a poor goal.

"It's a frustrating night, no doubt about that. I thought it was our best performance for a while and that's why we are frustrated not to get a draw."

Fulham manager Scott Parker said: "They started the game pretty strongly and we had our keeper to thank in the first 10 minutes where he pulled off a couple of good saves.

"But I felt from those early scares we dominated the game and controlled the game, we put the ball in the right areas and got our nose in front.

"In the second half I felt we were the only team who were going to score and then the goal comes from nothing from Swansea, from that moment we decided to see the game out and we did that very well, which pleases me a lot."