Goals from Kevin McDonald and Aleksandar Mitrovic have earned Fulham a 2-0 win over Leeds United in Tuesday's Championship clash at Craven Cottage.

The West Londoners netted either side of half time to extend their unbeaten league record to 18 matches, as well as close the gap on second-placed Cardiff City to just five points.

Leeds had their moments with Caleb Ekuban and Jay-Roy Grot both squandering chances, but the visitors did not deserve anything from the game and Paul Heckingbottom has work to do during the closing weeks of the campaign.

The first opportunity of the contest went the way of Fulham as Mitrovic was found 10 yards from goal by a low cross from Matt Targett, but the forward somehow fired wide.

However, the home side continued to pose a threat down the left and the Cottagers should have scored when Ryan Sessegnon's delivery across goal found Floyd Ayite at the back post, but the winger could only strike the post from inside the six-yard box.

Mitrovic then saw a header blocked by goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell at point-blank range and the signs were there that Fulham would run up a cricket score if they could find an early goal.

Leeds managed to nullify the threat offered by Fulham's front three, but Slavisa Jokanovic's men finally went ahead in the 33rd minute when McDonald diverted the ball into the net with his backside after Mitrovic and Tim Ream had helped the ball towards goal.

After going behind, Leeds rallied to put their hosts under pressure for the first time in the match, but Heckingbottom's side failed to register a shot on target before the half-time whistle.

A similar pattern of play occurred after the restart but Fulham soon started to create regular opportunities, with Sessegnon being denied a goal with a shot from 16 yards when Mitrovic got in the way of the ball.

The teenager then forced Peacock-Farrell into a fine save to his left from closer to goal, but Fulham finally did double their advantage 14 seconds after Leeds should have equalised at the other end.

Ekuban only had Marcus Bettinelli to beat from 14 yards but after the goalkeeper made the block, Fulham raced up the other end where Mitrovic slotted the ball into the bottom corner from 12 yards out.

Mitrovic's goal - his eighth since moving to Fulham on loan - put the home side in full control but with 10 minutes left, Leeds should have halved the deficit through JGrot, who somehow headed over the crossbar from inside the six-yard box.

In added-on time, Pablo Hernandez curled a free kick just wide for Leeds but aside from that effort, Fulham eased through to the final whistle as they continued their pursuit of automatic promotion.

FULHAM (4-3-3): Bettinelli; Fredericks, Odoi, Ream, Targett; McDonald (Kalas 88'), Cairney, Johansen; Ayite (Norwood 67'), Sessegnon, Mitrovic

LEEDS UNITED (4-2-3-1): Peacock-Farrell; Berardi, Jansson, Pennington, Dallas; O'Kane (Phillips 23'), Vieira; Saiz, Hernandez, Alioski (Grot 72'); Ekuban (Lasogga 72')