City swept the Cottagers aside 4-1 on Sunday to move up to fourth in a congested table, three points behind leaders Chelsea and second-placed Manchester United.
The display certainly impressed Pulis, who expects to see Mancini's expensively-assembled side challenging for top spot right through to the end of the season.
"I didn't go, but I watched it and (Stoke assistant manager) Dave Kemp went to the game," Pulis said. "I've seen them twice this year and they are just starting to gel together. I thought the performance at Fulham - I watched the tape again on Wednesday night - was absolutely first-class.
"They were very good, as good a Premier League performance as I've seen to be honest, especially away from home. They have obviously spent a hell of a lot of money and you need to do that if you want to win the championship - all the other clubs that have won it have spent massive money and Manchester City are only doing what the others have done.
"They get criticised at times for the amount of money they spend, but that is the market, the going rate. If they want to do it, they have to spend it and that is what they have gone out and done. I think they have got as good a chance as anybody at the top. There are five or six teams there that you can look at and say they have an outstanding chance, and I think Manchester City are just starting to recognise that they have got that chance."
Source: PA
Source: PA