Fulham 2
McBride 52 Nevland 87
Birmingham 0
Fulham 2 Birmingham 0 May 03 2008
Fulham hauled themselves out of the Premier League drop zone on Saturday with a 2-0 home win over Birmingham, who look doomed to relegation.
Simon Davies nearly gave the Cottagers an eighth-minute lead but was denied by a magnificent save from Maik Taylor.
Birmingham's best first-half chance fell to Mikael Forssell but he was dispossessed by Aaron Hughes just as he was about to shoot on 42 minutes.
On 52 minutes, Radhi Jaidi conceded a free-kick for an elbow on Brian McBride that Jimmy Bullard lofted into the box, and the American escaped some sloppy marking to nod home virtually on his knees.
With four minutes to go, Erik Nevland collected a bouncing ball, escaped Jaidi in a sprint into the box before rifling past Taylor.
Fulham are 17th, above Reading on goal difference with one game left. Birmingham are a point back in 19th.