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Blues and Reading down as Fulham celebrate survival

11/05/2008

Birmingham City and Reading have joined Derby County as the sides relegated from the Premier League.

Fulham survive on goal difference after their 1-0 win over FA Cup finalists Portsmouth thanks to Danny Murphy's second half goal.

The Blues are relegated by one point despite a 4-1 win over Blackburn Rovers, while Reading go down on goal difference despite thumping Derby 4-0.

Roy Hodgson will get the plaudits for leading the Cottagers' miraculous escape which has seen them win four of their last five games.

Fulham were heading for relegation until the deadlock was broken on 76 minutes when Murphy headed in Jimmy Bullard's free-kick.

The visitors held on in the closing stages for their third away win in a row to clinch their Premier League status.

Meanwhile Birmingham, without James McFadden who was injured in the warmup, made a frenetic start in their quest for survival with Mauro Zarate flashing a shot wide on five minutes after exchanging passes with Olivier Kapo.

Midfielder Kapo came agonisingly close to scoring on the half hour mark after meeting Sebastian Larsson's cross but headed wide.

Their possession was rewarded a minute later when the normally reliable Brad Friedel allowed David Murphy's long-range effort to squirm through his arms.

The American shot-stopper made amends minutes later with a fine low save, while Stephen Kelly hacked Brett Emerton's shot off the line to keep the home side ahead.

But Rovers were level at the start of the second half when Roque Santa Cruz set-up up Pedersen who poked in from close range.

Santa Cruz felt he should have been awarded a penalty minutes later when he was tripped, but was booked for diving by referee Howard Webb.

The Midlands club sealed victory with three goals in the final 17 minutes. Cameron Jerome turned the ball in from close range and scored his second with a sidefooted finish.

But at that stage the visitors knew they were doomed despite Fabrice Muamba heading in a fourth in the last minute.

The Royals looked to put their goal-scoring troubles behind them with Leroy Lita racing through in the fifth minute but his low effort was blocked by Roy Carroll.

Steve Coppell's men had temporarily moved out of the drop zone when James Harper curled a stunning shot into the corner from the edge of the box on 14 minutes.

Reading, looking to better Fulham's result to stay up, went 2-0 up on the hour mark when Dave Kitson converted Leroy Lita's cross.

Eight minutes later, Kevin Doyle stabbed in their third goal while Lita completed the rout with a bullet header in the 90th minute.

But it was not enough for the Royals whose leaky defence has contributed to their relegation in their second season in the top-flight.