Fulham cruised to their biggest Premiership win of the season thanks to a disputed ‘hat-trick’ from Heidar Helguson and two goals from substitute Collins John.

The 28-year-old Icelandic striker helped condemn awful Albion to their 14th defeat of the season to keep them on the edge of the relegation battle.

But he will have to wait until the Premier League decide whether his third goal will be officially credited to him after his original shot was directed into the net by Albion defender Curtis Davies.

The ball appeared to be going wide of the target when he attempted to curl Tomasz Radzinski’s pass into the net and changed direction completely when it struck the Albion defender.

There had been no such doubt about his first-half double. He began his demolition job in the fourth minute when he latched on to a header from Brian McBride and ran on into the penalty before firing in a low drive.

His second arrived five minutes before the interval when he leapt highest at the far post to meet Simon Elliott’s free-kick.

Albion offered little invention in midfield and consequently their attack was starved of the service it required in order to flourish.

Five minutes before the break a foul by Albion’s Martin Albrechtsen on Luis Boa Morte was punished by the impressive Helguson when he rose highest at the far post to plant Elliott’s curling free-kick into the top corner.

Albion’s plight worsened in the 48th minute when Fulham added their third of the afternoon. This time the scorer was Tomasz Radzinski, who evaded the attentions of the Albion defence and lobbed the ball over the stranded Kuszczak.

Helguson looked to have completed a deserved hat-trick in the 59th minute with a deflected shot from the edge of then penalty area, although the effort has so far been credited as an own goal.

Albion boss Bryan Robson immediately replaced the injured goalkeeper with substitute Russell Hoult.

But Helguson, replaced by Collins John in the 64th minute, will have to wait for the Premier League to adjudicate on whether he can claim a hat-trick or not.

John scored Fulham’s fifth in the 82nd minute when he poked home Radzinski’s curling cross and Albion pinched a consolation effort three minutes later when captain Kevin Campbell beat Niemi with a low drive at the near post.

John wrapped up the scoring in the 89th minute when he fired Radzinski's pass beyond Hoult.

PA