The Bluebirds are now off the foot of the table in 17th place while their opponents drop into the bottom three
SECOND-HALF strikes from Callum Paterson and sub Kadeem Harris gave Cardiff City their first win of the season as they ended a run of five straight defeats to move off the bottom.
Andre Schurrle had put Fulham ahead with a spectacular 35-yard effort on 11 minutes but Josh Murphy and Bobby Decordova-Reid netted in a five-minute sell to give City the lead.
Ryan Sessegnon levelled before the interval but makeshift striker Paterson struck the winner on 65 minutes after more poor defending from the Cottagers.
The defeat increases the pressure on boss Slavisa Jokanovic as their nightmare start to the season continued following the £100m+ plus summer spending spree.
Murphy came close to giving City the lead on four minutes with a curling effort that was tipped round the post by keeper Marcus Bettinelli.
But Fulham struck on 11 minutes with a stunning effort from Schurrle with their first effort of the game.
The German international cut past Harry Arter before unleashing a fierce effort that keeper Neil Etheridge could only help into the top corner with his fingertips.
But Fulham's defence was clearly struggling after being hit for five in their last game by Arsenal with Calum Chambers having a nightmare at right-back.
And City took advantage with two goals in the space of five minutes as speedy widemen Murphy and Decordova-Reid both netting.
Chambers' sloppy pass in midfield saw Sol Bamba put Murphy clear in the space vacated by the ex-Arsenal defender and his low effort took a slight deflection off Denis Odoi to beat Bettinelli on 15 minutes.
Then five minutes later City made a hash of a free-kick but as Schurrle tried to relieve the danger the ball rebounded off Aron Gunnarsson into the path of Reid who slid home his first goal for the club.
The visitors were level again on 34 minutes when Sessegnon clipped the ball beyond Etheridge after Schurrle and Aleksandar Mitrovic combined to set him up.
Chambers was put out of his misery at half-time with ex-Swansea centre-back Alfie Mawson sent on but the defence still looked to be struggling.
Callum Paterson fired wide and Sean Morrison headed over but Sessegnon - who has netted five times in five games against City - then forced Etheridge to fist clear.
But Paterson struck on 65 minutes turning home his first goal in the top-flight after Reid’s touch from Sol Bamba’s pass took the ball past three Fulham defenders.
Sub Kadeem Harris sealed the victory that lifted City off the bottom of the table as he slotted home at the far post on 87 minutes from Victor Camarasa’s drilled pass across the area.
