Fulham 2-0 Brum

My first reaction on leaving the game was that I needed to lie down. We won but… wow, exhausting.

The first half saw Fulham pass, pass, pass, pinning Birmingham back and bullying the game with impressive control. It was relentless, but we only had a couple of chances to show for it: first a clever free-kick from Bullard found Simon Davies in space, but his low finish was turned around the post. A fine save. Later Kamara looked to have a chance near the goal-line, but again it was repelled by various Birmingham limbs.  Encouraging to an extent, but we did need a goal. Word had got around that Reading were losing, but Fulham are not reliable goalscorers. Could we break through?

Birmingham lined up for the second half with Franck Queudrue at centre-back, Liam Ridgewell having been injured in the first half. Queudrue is good player but not completely trustworthy, and his presence at the heart of an already brittle defence gave us hope.

The goal came early. Brian McBride – who else? – stooped to meet a left-wing cross and pushed a header firmly and decisively past Taylor. The crowd leapt up and stayed up: things were falling into place.

It made for an awful second half. The first half had raced by; the second dragged on terribly. Birmingham replaced the anonymous Forssel with the impish Zarate, then threw Cameron Jerome at us too, but their pressure amounted to nothing. Kasey Keller, brilliantly shielded by the almost flawless duo of Hangeland and Hughes, had little to do. Fulham’s passing became less controlled – anywhere really would do – but still we looked in good shape.

Diomansy Kamara had a wonderful match, hurtling into tackles, dragging the defence all over the place with pacey, purposeful runs, and generally doing everything in his power to win the game for his team. At some point in this thrilling exhibition he injured himself, so was replaced by Secret Weapon Nevland.

Nevland is fast becoming type-cast: nervous lead in the dying minutes? Don’t worry, we have just the man. Just as at Reading, he broke clear of an over-committed defence, and just as he did at Reading, he belted the ball home as if it was the only thing that *could* have happened. Balls of steel and a solid technique, and now the man behind the two most welcome goals of the season. We couldn’t take the stress: Nevland sorted things out. He needs a drug related nickname.

If we had five more games we’d be safe. If we had three more games we’d be safe. This is a Premier League quality team now. I have no doubt of this. The remaining complication lies in earning more points to prove this, but, once more, we live to fight another day. Amazing day, and I’m glad it’s over.