Fulham 2-1 Queens Park Rangers: Kamara doubles sees Fulham beat QPR

Stand-in striker Aboubakar Kamara scored twice as Fulham overcame Queens Park Rangers to move up to fourth in the Championship table.

The visitors pressed high from the start and were rewarded for their attacking approach to the west London derby when Jordan Hugill forced the ball over the line from close range after Todd Kane's cross was parried into his path by goalkeeper Marek Rodak.

Another dangerous Kane cross almost led to a second, with Fulham defender Tim Ream seeing his attempted clearance come off the post.

Fulham recovered from their sluggish start and, with their first effort on target, Kamara headed home his first goal of the season.

Both sides had further first-half chances, Rodak keeping out Nahki Wells and what would have been an Alfie Mawson own goal either side of Ivan Cavaleiro hitting the woodwork for Fulham.

Kamara then punished QPR keeper Joe Lumley for a poor clearance, making the most of the time and space afforded to him to find the bottom corner just after the hour.

• Relive Fulham win against QPR

Suspension had robbed the hosts of talisman Mitrovic, who before the visit of QPR had scored half of all the Whites' Championship goals this season, but in Kamara they found a clinical replacement.

It was just his second league start for the club since he was arrested after a clash at Fulham's training ground, banned from the club and sent on loan to Turkish side Malatyaspor earlier in the year.

The Frenchman's double ensured Scott Parker's side triumphed for just the second time without the league's leading scorer among the goals this season.

Mark Warburton's QPR, who have conceded the second most goals in the Championship, remain the only club in England's top four divisions yet to keep a clean sheet this season.

Their third defeat in a five-game winless run leaves them 10th in the table, but they can slip as low as 15th if a number of sides below them win over the weekend.

Rangers' trip to Craven Cottage had got off to the ideal start, Hugill putting them ahead inside three minutes of a high-tempo opening half from the visitors which saw Rodak twice called into action while another chance came off the post.

Fulham, however, gained the composure their early performance lacked and hit back through Kamara just before the half-hour mark.

Thereafter the hosts looked a reinvigorated force, Cavaleiro hitting the post before the break while Anthony Knockaert tested Lumley early in the second half.

Kamara then profited from Lumley's mistake to double his tally for the game and season, and it was nearly three for Fulham moments later as Knockaert hit the post in a rousing come-from-behind win for the Cottagers.

Fulham manager Scott Parker on match-winner Kamara:

"I'm really pleased for him. He has not been a problem since I stepped into the role.

"You have to manage him differently but he gives you everything and he topped off his performance with two really good finishes. The perception is very different to the reality.

"What happened last season with Abou is well documented but he has come back into the squad with the blessing of the players. They are fully on board.

"He has not been involved much this season, and he has his moments, but he is a grafter and he works hard and he deserved his goals."

QPR boss Mark Warburton:

"It's very frustrating to be leaving with nothing.

"We know about the quality in the Fulham squad, but we had to be brave and you saw us being brave.

"We got the early goal, created chances, matched a high-quality team in possession and been very, very good - but we've lost 2-1.

"In that first period we could have been two or three up. Had we left with a point, I'd have been frustrated."