BRIAN McBride and Erik Nevland struck to haul Fulham out of the Barclays Premier League bottom three and leave Birmingham on the brink of relegation.
McBride converted Jimmy Bullard's 52nd-minute free-kick to edge the Cottagers out of the drop zon
e for the first time since Boxing Day before Nevland sealed a famous victory with a fine finish.
The win sets them up beautifully for their nerve-shredding finale at Portsmouth.
Even manager Roy Hodgson appeared to accept his side's seven-year stay in the top flight was over but their remarkable escape act continues.
Winning three of their last four matches has left them on the threshold of a stunning achievement that could yet be ruined at Fratton Park.
In contrast, Birmingham are heading in the opposite direction.
With the stakes so high the match was short on quality but high in drama, particularly in a nail-biting second half.
To their credit Fulham tried to play football while a workmanlike Birmingham relied on James McFadden for their only moments of inspiration.
Fulham started the second half with a flourish and crept ahead in the 52nd minute. Radhi Jaidi conceded a free-kick for an elbow on McBride that Bullard lofted into the box, and the American striker escaped some sloppy marking to nod home virtually on his knees.
In the 68th minute Diomansy Kamara – who had ousted David Healy from the starting line-up – was replaced by Nevland.
Fulham put the result beyond doubt with four minutes to go. Nevland collected a bouncing ball, escaped Jaidi in a sprint into the box before rifling past Maik Taylor.
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