Express & Star

Blues’ survival hopes were dealt a massive blow as they slipped to defeat against fellow strugglers Fulham.

Brian McBride and Erik Nevland bagged the second half goals that clinched victory for the hosts and left Blues facing the drop.

Blues were boosted by the return of captain Johnson following a suspension. He replaced Mehdi Nafti, who has been struggling with a thigh problem, in the starting line-up.

Blues got the game underway and immediately attempted to turn up the pressure on Fulham, who began the afternoon one place below Alex McLeish’s side.

It was Fulham who started better though, and but for a Bullard miskick after just six minutes the home side would have taken the lead.

Fulham continued to look more dangerous early on, and their first shot on goal came from Davies.

He saw a shot brilliantly tipped wide by Blues keeper Taylor after a cleverly worked free-kick.

It took 15 minutes for Blues to find any rhythm to their play, although they were finding it difficult to pick out front men McFadden and Forssell.

Errors began to creep into Fulham’s play just as they sought to crank up the pressure on a side that has failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 17 matches.

Brave defending from centre-back Hangeland snuffed out two promising attacks by Birmingham, whose influence on the match was growing.

Larsson did find the net on 20 minutes, but referee Foy had already awarded handball against the midfielder.

Blues had picked up just two wins from the past 12 matches, and their poor away form meant they had not picked up a win on the road since a 3-2 success over Tottenham back in November.

There were no signs that that record would be changing with Fulham creating a chance on 35 minutes, as Kamara headed over the crossbar.

Birmingham had the final chance of the half. Kapo played in McFadden, and as the Scot drifed a pass into the path of Forssell, home centre back Hughes arrived to clear the danger.

Jaidi made one of the most vital blocks of his career. He threw himself in front of the ball as Kamara attempted to turn the ball home.

During the break Blues took the decision to bring Queudrue on in place of Ridgewell.

Queudrue left Fulham at the start of the season in a £2m switch, but insisted in the build-up to this match that he would have no problem helping to send Roy Hodgson’s men down.

He was marking McBride, and it was the American who had the first chance of the second half as Taylor held on to his drive.

Muamba picked up a yellow card for dissent soon afterwards, and then Fulham took the lead on 50 minutes.

Bullard delivered a free-kick into the area, and McBRIDE was unmarked as he headed beyond Taylor.

Fulham should have made it 2-0 when Kamara twisted the defence inside out, bit fired over the bar to the relief of Blues boss McLeish as he barked orders from the touchline.

McFadden tried his best to draw Blues level, curling wide after a clever run. But McLeish then decided to introduce Zarate to add a new edge to his side’s attack.

McFadden then flashed narrowly wide as Blues pressed for an equaliser.

Fulham secured a crucial victory when substitute NEVLAND netted their seond three mimutes from time.