The word is that Jimmy Bullard, once again the inspiration and propulsive force of Fulham’s team, has refused to prolong his present contract, which still has another 18 months to run, unless he is paid more money. After yet another exceptional performance at Craven Cottage, his chairman might even consider mortgaging Harrods.

Bullard it was, ubiquitous as ever, winning balls, intercepting balls, moving balls, who prompted Fulham’s attack from the very beginning. They were also encouraged in the first half by Middlesbrough’s inexplicably negative tactics.

They used only the lonely and frustrated Jeremie Aliadiere up front. In the second half Boro did put Mido on to reinforce Aliadiere, but by that time Fulham were a goal ahead, and when, after 54 minutes, they doubled their lead with a slightly soft penalty, the writing was on the wall for Boro.

They showed signs of life in attack early in the game, though the first shot of consequence followed, almost inevitably, a cross on the right by Bullard. It was met strongly by the ever-lively Andy Johnson’s left foot and turned aside for a corner by Ross Turnbull.

On 23 minutes Boro briefly threatened when Tuncay shot narrowly wide from Stewart Downing’s left-wing corner. Nine minutes later Tuncay and Downing set up Aliadiere, whose shot was capably blocked by Mark Schwarzer.

On 41 minutes Fulham deservedly went ahead after calling the tune for most of the half. Bobby Zamora, on as a substitute, shot, Turnbull blocked, but Bullard followed up to score. It was fitting, as he and the equally active Danny Murphy had dominated midfield.

Nine minutes after the interval Zamora challenged for the ball, it hit the arm of Tony McMahon and the referee gave a penalty. Fulham had been refused a spot-kick when they appealed for a similar offence by the same player in the first half. Murphy coolly took the penalty, scoring just inside the right-hand post.

Not only were Middlesbrough scarcely scintillating in attack, their defence made basic errors. When Clint Dempsey put Johnson clear with a clever through ball, Turnbull dived successfully at the striker’s feet. But on 59 minutes, when Murphy crossed from the left, there was Dempsey criminally unmarked to make the score 3-0.

Zamora, now tormenting a confused defence, could have set up a fourth for Fulham on 81 minutes when he brushed past Robert Huth and launched Johnson, but the long-suffering Turnbull blocked the shot.

Roy Hodgson, Fulham’s manager, said: “This game was really important. We’ve been given a lot of credit for our away performances. It was important to keep that run going and to keep playing as well as we had been, but to win the match. We’ve given ourselves a little bit of a platform on which we can build.”

Regarding Bullard’s position, he said: “I hope he’ll be playing for us until the end of the season. We’ll see what happens in January. But we’re talking about a player who’s got a year and a half on his contract.”

A resigned Gareth Southgate, Boro’s manager, said: “I think we were second best in every respect. The first goal was always going to be crucial and we conceded a poor one. Quality in the final third wasn’t good enough. Obviously we tried to change at half-time and looked brighter for a spell.”

But he deplored the penalty given against his team. “I told the players we can’t hide behind that but I thought it was an unbelievable decision.”

Star man: Jimmy Bullard (Fulham)

Yellow cards: Middlesbrough: Arca, McMahon

Referee: K Stroud

Attendance: 23,722

Fulham: Schwarzer 6, Pantsil 7, Hughes 6, Hangeland 7, Konchesky 6, Davies 6, Bullard 8 (Andreasen 84min), Murphy 8 (Etuhu 78min), Gera 6 (Zamora 31min, 6), Dempsey 7, Johnson 8

Middlesbrough: Turnbull 7, McMahon 5, Riggott 5, Huth 5 (Taylor 87min), Pogatetz 5, Tuncay 6, Johnson 6 (Emnes 79min), Shawky 5, Arca 5 (Mido h-t, 5), Downing 6, Aliadiere 6