Britt Assombalonga netted twice in the opening 21 minutes to tee up what looked like a comfortable victory for the home side and a familiar tale for their opponents who came to Nottiingham as the Championship's bottom club.
Fulham however showed they still have plenty of fight left in them and £11m signing Ross McCormack with a double and Hugo Rodallega left them on the brink of a famous victory.
Manager Felix Magath was left with his head in his hands though when Michail Antonio equalised and Assombalonga completed his hat-trick before Jamie Paterson scored the eighth and final goal of the game.
22,572 were royally entertained and the majority went home happy with their side back on top of the table.