And Hughes' side have now won just two of their last ten league games, leaving a major question mark over whether he will be the man entrusted with the Abu Dhabi United Group's money when City go on what is expected to be a major spending spree in January.
Fulham manager Roy Hodgson, though, will be quietly pleased as his outfit extended their unbeaten run to five games, leaving them safely in mid-table.
The hosts went into the game having not conceded in their last two and with the knowledge they had also won their last three home games, while not one of Manchester City's 29 league goals this season had been a header.
But those statistics were turned on their head as early as the sixth minute when Benjani took advantage of a wonderful cross from right-back Pablo Zabaleta by slipping between two defenders and planting a powerful header into the corner.
But Fulham came back into the game after that shaky start and should have had a penalty after 22 minutes.
Richard Dunne was the lucky man as the City captain appeared to stop Andy Johnson from cutting inside him by using his arm to flick away the ball - although not in the eyes of referee Rob Styles.
But the incident served only to galvanise Fulham as the hosts were level after 27 minutes.
Bobby Zamora played an integral part in the build-up, threading a delicate ball into the channel between Dunne and Michael Ball and Bullard took his time before lashing the ball into the far corner past a static Joe Hart.
Clint Dempsey shot wide and then headed over as Fulham piled on the pressure before half-time, although Benjani nearly claimed his second when he lashed a drive just wide from 20 yards.
It was an entertaining end to a fine half, although the second period could not match that intensity, before Bullard sparked it into life again by drawing a superb tip over from Hart as his 30-yard free-kick swerved away from the goalkeeper and towards the top corner.
And from the resulting corner, Zamora missed the chance of the day as he failed to get a touch on Brede Hangeland's flick when just three yards out.
Both sides missed presentable chances in the closing stages and a draw was probably a fair result, although Hughes will be feeling the heat at the helm of the richest club in the world.