It isn’t often this season that Aleksandar Mitrovic doesn’t trouble the scorers. The Serbian has been in such scintillating form this term that it comes as a surprise when he draws a black, as he did against Blackburn yesterday. His all-round game, decried by plenty of pundits and ignored by Scott Parker last season, came to the fore as intelligent movement and the sort of selfless pressing our previous boss didn’t believe he was capable of created the space for two constants in this Fulham side to shine.

The first goal might have owed a lot to defensive mistakes, but it was ultimately scored because of Neeskens Kebano’s persistence. I’m not entirely sure why Jan Paul van Hecke opted to head a ball back into Fulham possession rather than concede a corner or a throw in, but it invited further pressure from the league leaders when Rovers were on the break. In the cold light of day, Thomas Kaminski will feel he should have held Neco Williams’ shot but Kebano was alive to the prospect of a rebound and got his reward.

The Congolese is enjoying his finest season in Fulham colours and his first with a prolonged spell in the side since he came to Craven Cottage from Genk in 2016. His consistency means being a mainstay in Marco Silva’s starting line-up is entirely merited and he has added a genuine goal threat to the cameos that used to get us out of our seats. Kebano’s wing play has improved greatly since Luis Boa Morte joined the Fulham coaching staff – given how Silva’s number two used to delight in terrorising full backs that can’t be a coincidence – and he now has nine goals this term, the second best goalscoring return of his career.

Harry Wilson’s quality on the opposite flank has never been in doubt. The Welshman is a proven performer at this level and started the season superbly. There have been little dips and quiet spells since, but Wilson never stops challenging defenders by making those smart runs infield from the right wing and his work rate is phenomenal. He made that delightful dink over a stranded Kaminski seem straightforward when it really wasn’t. Wilson’s contributions in general play are so important to the fluidity of this Fulham side – but his individual numbers are extraordinary. It is now ten goals and thirteen assists in 32 games: the deal to break him to SW6 from Anfield now seems an absolute steal.

A word too on a defence that dealt with everything another promotion contender had to throw at them without much fuss. Yes, they were well protected by the endeavour of Harrison Reed in front of them but superlatives are needed to describe the continued excellence of Tosin Adarabioyo and Tim Ream. The former will collect plenty of plaudits for the precision of his pass to put Wilson away, but Ream’s reading of the game and organisational ability make him just as important to this side’s serene progress. He may be 34 and another season at the top level is probably beyond him, but the American’s outstanding displays have left Michael Hector and Alfie Mawson kicking their heels on the sidelines. Fulham’s preference for a high line at set pieces has my heart in my mouth – but it was proved correct again for Blackburn’s disallowed goal, with discipline and clear communication leaving Bradley Johnson clearly offside.

I’m no fan of the 12:30pm kick off – as it regularly reduces the spectacle, ruins the order of your day and effects the atmosphere within the ground – but it is very nice to settle down and digest the three o’clock kick offs with three points already wrapped up. Fulham’s commanding position at the top of the Championship was only strengthened as the afternoon wore on. Scott Parker’s penchant for sitting on a lead proved Bournemouth’s undoing at Preston, with a manager feeling the pressure becoming the story after his own late sending off, whilst QPR’s promotion push may have hit the buffers following Cardiff’s late show in Shepherd’s Bush.

The beauty of Silva’s ceaseless search for perfection is that he won’t settle for any slacking off. The players insist they don’t consult the table as regularly as the fans – and will focus solely on a tricky trip to in-form Swansea on Tuesday night. That’s absolutely the right approach but this Fulham team is something special. They were nothing near their flowing best on Saturday but had more than enough for Blackburn. Silva’s side should surge past a hundred goals even if Jean Tigana’s mark of 101 points might prove a touch too tricky. The head coach himself was categorical: he isn’t motivated by records only regular improvement. He’ll soon have to plan for another crack at the Premier League, where he certainly has unfinished business.