Stead, a 750,000-pound signing from Sunderland earlier this month, ended a ten-match goalscoring drought to give Neil Warnock's side the lead mid-way through the first half.

Midfielder Michael Tonge added a close-range second five minutes later and, with Fulham's away day sickness resurfacing, the home side never relinquished control of the contest and they have now opened up a seven-point cushion between them and the relegation zone.

There was one bright note for Fulham boss Chris Coleman with goalkeeper Antti Niemi back between the posts for the first time since he fell dangerously on his head against Watford on New Year's Day.

Niemi was in the thick of the action inside a minute when former Leeds United ace Rob Hulse got clear of his back four.

The goalkeeper's speed off his line was sufficient to force the United striker into a rushed finish that drifted beyond the post but it also resulted in him suffering a cut mouth as he was caught on the follow through.

After lengthy treatment, Niemi was able to continue and he denied the home side the lead by touching Stephen Quinn's flick wide of the post before producing another good save to keep out a volley from the Ireland midfielder.

But there was nothing he could do about Stead's opener. After combining with Nick Montgomery on the edge of the area, the striker wriggled past Zat Knight before smashing a left-footed drive high into the net.

Five minutes later, United doubled their lead after Fulham's defence failed to clear a cross decisively. Tonge found Quinn at the back post and the Irish youngster sent the ball into the goalmouth, where Tonge arrived in time to fire home.

Coleman took off in-form on loan Italian striker Vincenzo Montella just after the half hour mark and sent Heidar Helguson into the fray but it made little difference as United continued to dominate.

Hulse headed an inviting chance wide in first-half stoppage time and came close to finding the net in the dying minutes of the match when he sent an overhead kick off a Stead flick-on crashing against the bar.