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Victory over Blues edges Fulham closer to safety

03/05/2008

Fulham have moved closer to Premier League survival following a 2-0 win over Birmingham City which lifts them out of the relegation zone.

Brian McBride and Erik Nevland were the strike heroes for Roy Hodgson's side as the Blues remained in the bottom three.

Had the Cottagers not won they would have faced an uphill task next week and the home side played like a side with their futures on the line.

McBride rattled the Blues bar midway through the first half only to be ruled out for offside anyway. However, it was an early warning for Birmingham of what lay ahead.

Jimmy Bullard and Simon Davies worked a neat free-kick which released the former Spurs man but he was denied by an excellent save from Maik Taylor.

Fulham continued to pressurise Alex McLeish's team and Bullard hoisted a free-kick deep into the Blues penalty area and McBride managed to get the final touch at the far post to put Fulham in the lead.

The visitors had rarely threatened the Cottagers goal and their best chance came with five minutes remaining but Radhi Jaidi headed wide from close-range and his side were left to rue the miss.

With the game drawing to an end Fulham ended the Blues' hopes of finding and equaliser when Nevland raced through and slotted the ball past Taylor.

Fulham are now ahead of Reading on goal difference but may yet need a result against Portsmouth next week to ensure their survival.

Birmingham are a point adrift of their rivals and face a tough match at home to Blackburn on the final day.

Elsewhere, Wigan dented Aston Villa's hopes of beating Everton to the final Uefa Cup place when they beat Martin O'Neill's men 2-0 at Villa Park.

Antonio Valencia, who has been linked with a move away from the club at the end of the season, scored both goals in the second half.

His first was a speculative shot from the edge of the box which deflected off Villa defender Wilfred Bouma and looped over Scott Carson.

His second ten minutes later was more decisive. The forward controlled Emile Heskey's flick-on, swivelled, and volleyed the ball into the back of the net to give Steve Bruce's side all three points.

In the day's other game Blackburn comfortably beat bottom-of-the-table Derby 3-1 at Ewood Park. Kenny Miller gave Derby a surprise lead but Roque Santa Cruz equalised on the stroke of half time.

Jason Roberts gave Rovers the lead at the start of the second half before Santa Cruz continued his impressive form this season by netting Blackburn's third.