The 31-year-old Australian, whose contract expires at the end of next month, fired his side ahead on 34 minutes and claimed his 19th goal of the season within a minute of the restart.

Had it not been for a fine one-on-one save from Antti Niemi, who was outstanding in the Fulham goal, eight minutes from time, Viduka would have collected a hat-trick and become the first Boro striker to score 20 goals in a season since Fabrizio Ravanelli a decade ago.

The Teessiders wobbled briefly when Simon Davies cashed in on an error by David Wheater to level on 42 minutes, but the defender made amends in first-half stoppage time with a powerful header to restore his side's lead.

Victory ensured Gareth Southgate's side finished the season one point and two places better off than they had done in Steve McClaren's final campaign at the Riverside Stadium.

Fulham fought gamely throughout, but were comprehensively beaten as Viduka and England winger Stewart Downing made the difference.

Both sides had confirmed their top-flight status with vital 1-0 victories last week and the atmosphere before kick-off had an end-of-season feel about it.

However, what transpired far exceeded expectations as Boro ripped into the Londoners.

Has it not been for the excellence of Niemi, the Teessiders could have been home and dry by the break.

The Finn pulled off two stunning saves with seconds to keep out Dong-Gook Lee's vicious volley and then Emanuel Pogatetz's header, and later repeated to feat to turn away George Boateng's fierce drive and Fabio Rochemback's long-range piledriver.

However, Niemi's heroics should really have made little difference as chances came and went with Southgate's men failing to make the most of them.

Chief villain was South Korea striker Lee, who squandered glorious opportunities on 17 minutes and then on the stroke of half-time, although he was not alone.

Downing and Argentinian midfielder Julio Arca were also guilty of bad misses, and it took the expert to make the pressure tell.

Viduka needed no second invitation after being played in by Jonathan Woodgate, calmly shifting the ball onto his right foot before dispatching it past the helpless Niemi.

Wheater, in for the injured Andrew Taylor, was left red-faced three minutes before the break when he failed to deal with Carlos Bocangera's up-and-under and then compounded the error by leaving his header short for Davies to lob keeper Mark Schwarzer.

However, he atoned for his mistake deep into stoppage time when he thundered home a header from Rochemback's corner to restore Boro's lead.

Fulham found themselves further behind within a minute of the restart when Viduka once again demonstrated the power and finishing ability which has proved so valuable to the Teessiders over the years.

Collecting Lee's pass with his back to goal, he failed in his attempt to play Boateng in, but persevered to roll his marker and drill an unstoppable shot past Niemi.

The visitors might have grabbed a lifeline on 48 minutes when Tomasz Radzinski found space on the left, but he fired into the side-netting with Schwarzer covering his near post.

Lee's accuracy deteriorated further as his desperation to score increased, and he fired high and wide from distance on 56 minutes with the visitors stretched once again.

By contrast, Viduka was in menacing form and intent on completing a hat-trick, Bocanegra and former Boro defender Franck Queudrue, on for Philippe Christanval, combining to deny him a shot at goal and Liam Rosenior managing to cut out Boateng's cross on the hour with the Australian waiting to pounce at the far post.

The 31-year-old almost got there with 20 minutes remaining when he controlled Downing's inviting cross and then sent a dipping volley inches over the bar with Niemi rooted to the spot.

Fulham substitute Collins John saw a 72nd-minute effort blocked by Wheater, but Bocanegra had to be on his toes to get to Downing's cross just before Viduka seconds later with the Riverside urging the striker on.

But the former Leeds frontman should really have collected his third goal as time ran down as he danced towards Niemi only to see the keeper kick the ball away and then recover to parry Rochemback's follow-up.