Man City 3 Fulham 0

ADAM JOHNSON inspired Man City to an easy three points where they were only challenged by the blizzard weather conditions. The winger gave Fulham's Chris Baird a torrid time. First he tumbled over his leg for a first-half penalty which Sergio Aguero converted. Then Johnson hit a cross-shot the hapless defender turned into his own net with his knee. Edin Dzeko added a third in the second half as the game was hit by a flurry of mini-suspensions for groundstaff to come on and clear the pitch markings. The win puts City three points clear of neighbours Manchester United and keeps their perfect home record intact. Boss Roberto Mancini was also impressed with the way they bounced back from defeat against Everton. He said: "The players were fantastic and played very well. It was not easy as Fulham are a good team. "This is a very important result after one defeat. We need to fight against the top teams and we need to win. "There are some difficult moments in the season and January for us was so-so." Mancini played down an injury to midfielder Samir Nasri, who limped off during the match. He added: "Samir had a small problem and in the next few days we can see how he is." With snow falling heavily at kick-off, Mancini's side made a great start when Mark Schwarzer saved from Dzeko. The Bosnian then met Gareth Barry's low cross at the near-post but scooped his first-time shot over the bar. Philippe Senderos twice made important interventions as David Silva threatened deep inside the Fulham penalty area. City took the lead when Johnson went down under Baird's challenge. Referee Mike Dean pointed to the spot and Aguero did not waste it. Clint Dempsey shot wide in a rare attack at the other end, before Dzeko missed another chance in trying to deflect Aleksandar Kolarov's shot goalwards. Silva exchanged passes with Aguero inside the City box but the Spain star lashed his shot wide of the far post. A long-range Johnson effort whistled past Schwarzer's left-hand post but the Fulham keeper appeared to have it covered. Simon Davies got round the back of Micah Richards and managed to cross to Damien Duff, who fired wide. Any City nerves were settled when Aguero flicked the ball through to Johnson and the winger's low cross was turned helplessly into his own goal by Baird. City could have had another penalty when former Blues midfielder Dickson Etuhu lunged in on Silva with manager Roberto Mancini furious at ref Dean's refusal to award a spot-kick. Only Schwarzer's fast reactions prevented Philippe Senderos turning Richards' cross into his own net. Schwarzer saved again from Aguero and Brede Hangeland threw himself in the way of Dzeko's goalbound effort as the City pressure intensified. City's second half dominance was only ever threatened by threat of abandonment from the weather. Dzeko added the third with a simple finish after Aguero weaved his way through the defence - including a bemused Senderos - who hobbled off just a minute later. Fulham almost grabbed a consolation with 10 minutes to go. Sub Bryan Ruiz took a corner kick, Duff helped it on and the ball deflected off a City defender and came back off the left-hand upright. Martin Jol had NEVER previously lost to City in seven previous encounters. His side never looked like getting close in this one. Man City: Hart, Richards, Savic, Lescott, Kolarov, Nasri (Milner 54), Barry, Silva, Johnson (Pizarro 90), Aguero (De Jong 80), Dzeko. Subs Not Used: Pantilimon, Zabaleta, Clichy, Rekik. Booked: Kolarov. Goals: Aguero 10 pen, Baird 30 og, Dzeko 72. Fulham: Schwarzer, Kelly, Hangeland, Senderos (John Arne Riise 73), Baird, Davies, Murphy, Etuhu (Ruiz 68), Duff, Dembele (Gecov 85), Dempsey. Subs Not Used: Stockdale, Kasami, Hughes, Frei. Booked: Senderos, Dembele, Baird. Att: 46,963 Ref: Mike Dean (Wirral).