City were ahead after just five minutes thanks to Carlos Tevez, one of five members of the visiting starting line-up Fulham boss Mark Hughes was responsible for taking to Eastlands.
The visitors then dominated possession before Pablo Zabaleta and Yaya Toure struck in a three-minute spell just before the break. Tevez added another, to take his season's tally to 10, in the second-half and though Fulham pulled one back through a Zoltan Gera shot that struck Clint Dempsey, it was purely academic.
"Last week I was a stupid manager who was six points behind. Now, I am the 'best manager' because I am only three points off the top of the league," shrugged Mancini.
"This is not important. We must continue to work and improve every game, every day. Only that way can we win.
"But if we have a big problem and a big crisis and we are only three points behind United and Chelsea, then we are doing well. But, in our minds, we must only think about working."
Source: PA
Source: PA