Fulham ended their goalscoring hoodoo with a strike from a man who has not scored a league goal for six seasons.

Terry Phelan was the unlikely hero and his 53rd minute volley broke a run of more than 1,000 minutes without a league goal from open play from the Cottagers.

Lee Clark, who created the opener, bagged his second of the season, five minutes from time, to wrap up the points for the home team.

Paul Bracewell's wealthy Londoners had only managed an own goal, a deflected free-kick and a penalty in the new century and disgruntled Fulham fans were beginning to wonder if their was a way past gritty Walsall.

The struggling Saddlers had frustrated Mohamed Al-Fayed's Premiership seekers and wasted chances on the break to have taken the lead against the run of play.

But, just as rumblings of discontent were surfacing once again on the banks of the Thames, Phelan arrived at the back post to smash home a valuable contribution to the Fulham promotion drive.

Bracewell's men had dominated the first half in terms of possession but had to settle for a series of half chances from around the edge of the penalty area.

Clark, Steve Finnan, Geoff Horsfield and Barry Hayles all tried their luck without success as Walsall created occasional problems on the counter attack.

Kevin Harper lashed a left-foot volley into the top corner, in the 24th minute, only to be denied by an offside flag from the substitute linesman Matthew Knight, who had only just stepped into the action.

The official was on after assistant referee Neil Jones twisted an ankle, in the 14th minute, and had to be stretchered off after receiving lengthy treatment on the touchline.

Hayles was also denied by an offside flag before Darren Wrack squandered the chance of the half, seconds before the interval.

Fulham's defence froze as a high ball from Tony Barras swirled into the area. It fell to Wrack but he dragged his shot across the face of goal and wide from 10 yards.

After the break, Fulham were back on top. Walker saved from Goldbaek and Horsfield but could do nothing to stop Phelan breaking the deadlock.

Clark lofted a pass from the Fulham right to the far post, where the Irish full-back, who moved to Craven Cottage at the start of February, charged in to volley home.

Chris Coleman produced a wonderful goal-line tackle to deny sub Andy Rammell an equaliser with his first touch, in the 61st minute.

Rammell looked certain to tap home from close range, after a brilliant run and low cross by Wrack had left Fulham keeper Maik Taylor stranded, but the Welshman somehow recovered to clear the ball from beneath the crossbar.

As Walsall went in search of a point and Fulham looked for a second, gaps appeared at both ends.

Mark Robins saw a penalty appeal turned down but Clark made the game safe five minutes from time with a delightful solo goal.

He picked up the ball on the right, danced inside a couple of challenges and unleashed a left-foot drive past Walker.

Teams

Fulham: Taylor, Melville, Coleman, Morgan, Finnan, Goldbaek, Ball, Clark, Phelan, Horsfield, Hayles.

Subs Not Used: Hahnemann, Symons, Hayward, Riedle, Davis.

Goals: Phelan 53, Clark 84.

Walsall: Walker, Brightwell, Padula, Viveash, Barras, Bukran (Larusson 60), Keates, Ricketts (Rammell 60), Harper, Wrack, Robins, Rammell (Forrester 88).

Subs Not Used: Gadsby, Emberson.

Att: 10,540

Ref: M Messias (York).