City survived a scare from comeback kings Fulham to pick up a vital three points in their race for a Champions League spot.

The Cottagers sensationally fought back against European giants Juventus in midweek but couldn't cope with South American hitmen Roque Santa Cruz and Carlos Tevez, who put City two-up.

But it wouldn't be City to simply cruise to victory as their domination deserved and they handed Fulham a lifeline with a Danny Murphy penalty and were forced back as the home side tried desperately to scramble a draw.

The Blues were forced into a last minute change to their starting line-up when defender Joleon Lescott tweaked his hamstring in the warm-up.

Spaniard Javier Garrido came in while boss Roberto Mancini also gave starts to Santa Cruz, Kolo Toure, Adam Johnson and Patrick Vieira.

The opener in the seventh minute came immediately after the Blues almost conceded. Damien Duff lofted a cross to the far post where Bobby Zamora headed back and Zoltan Gera touched over Shay Given, only for Toure to acrobatically clear off the line.

City retained the ball and sprung a counter-attack, with Tevez feeding the ball to Craig Bellamy on the right flank. The Welshman's tame shot flicked the heels of Aaron Hughes, struck the post and bounced over Mark Schwarzer, allowing Santa Cruz to poke home as Dickson Etuhu closed in.

It was his fourth goal of an injury-hit season and his first under Mancini, who was rewarded for fielding an attacking line-up against a team that had only lost once at home since September.

Tevez tested Schwarzer twice in the first half, the first with a powerful drive that looked set for the bottom corner and then after Paul Konchesky had carelessly given the ball away in a dangerous area.

Fulham enjoyed plenty of possession but were struggling to find a way past a defence protected by Gareth Barry and Vieira, with the Frenchman making his start since returning from a ban for violent conduct.

Tevez then doubled the lead nine minutes before the break. Bellamy provided the assist again, this time floating a pass from the flank to find his team-mate between Chris Baird and Smalling. The Argentina forward cut inside Smalling before finishing crisply past Schwarzer.

Cottagers boss Roy Hodgson  he took off Zamora and Gera early in the second half, with Clint Dempsey and Stefano Okaka coming on to try to get the hosts back in the game.

City, however, looked likely to add to their lead. Johnson laid on a chance for Santa Cruz that Schwarzer parried, then Johnson cut inside from the right wing and fired a shot that struck the post.

Bellamy was also found by Johnson unmarked in the penalty area and had time to chest the ball under control - but his finish went wide of Schwarzer's upright.

But Fulham grabbed a lifeline with 15 minutes to go when referee Lee Probert pointed to the spot after Barry handled Baird's cross.

Murphy was reliable as ever from the spot as fired home his 11th consecutive penalty.

It saw Craven Cottage come alive as the home side looked to steal an unlikely point.

And they came close when substitute Stefan Okaka spooned over from close range.

City's own sub Nigel de Jong could have wrapped up the points but the hardman, who has never scored the Blues, fired straight at Schwarzer.

Fulham had another appeal for a penalty in injury time when a cross appeared to hit Vincent Kompany's hand but this time Probert didn't give it.