Manager Scott Parker praised forward Ivan Cavaleiro’s “courage” as his penalty helped Fulham climb out of the Premier League relegation places.
Parker’s side had missed three penalties in a row before Cavaleiro converted to help secure victory at Leicester, who missed the chance to go level on points with leaders Tottenham.
The Portuguese had been one of the spot-kick culprits – missing in a 3-2 home defeat by Everton eight days earlier – and Parker was impressed with the way he stepped up.
Aleksandar Mitrovic had hit the bar with a penalty at Sheffield United in October, and Ademola Lookman had been widely criticised for a failed attempt at a Panenka-style spot-kick in the defeat by West Ham on 7 November.
“Lookman came under a lot of stick when he did the penalty and he needed to take his medicine,” Parker said.
5 Live Football Daily: Marine, Mourinho and Arteta’s work in progress
“Cavaleiro slipped last week and I’m not on Twitter or Instagram but I can only imagine what was being said, the jokes at his expense.
“I said to him: ‘Are you ready to take one if we get it?’ He looked at me dead in the eye and said: ‘I’m ready.’ It’s the courage to step up there are the things we need.”
Lookman scored Fulham’s opener, slotting past Kasper Schmeichel following Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa’s driving run from inside his own half.
Cavaleiro stepped up to make it 2-0 before half-time, after referee Simon Hooper reviewed Christian Fuchs’ tackle on Bobby Decordova-Reid on the pitchside monitor.
Leicester had earlier struck the woodwork twice in quick succession as Wesley Fofana’s follow-up to Youri Tielemans’ volley cannoned off the crossbar.
But the Foxes, as they did in their 3-0 defeat by Liverpool, endured another frustrating night in attack until substitute Harvey Barnes’ late reply ensured a nervy finale for Fulham.
“Ade earned the right to score his goal and Cav put himself up to be scrutinised,” Parker said. “There’s no denying there’s relief.
“We’re in a world where it’s win or lose for all of us and that’s the big picture. I’ve spoken to them about not letting defeats cripple us.”
Fulham’s second win of the season takes them up two places to 17th, while Leicester remain fourth and three points behind leaders Tottenham.
RB Leipzig loanee Lookman celebrated his goal by holding up a Senegal shirt which had been hung in the visitors’ dressing room, in tribute to former midfielder Papa Bouba Diop, who died aged 42 on Sunday.