McBride and Nevland strikes boost Fulham's survival hopes
Saturday, 12 Apr 2008 17:58
McBride tormented the Reading defence all afternoon
Fulham's hopes of Premier League survival have been boosted following a 2-0 victory away at
Reading.
The Cottagers are now four points adrift of
Birmingham City, after the Blues dropped points at home to
Everton, while Reading themselves got pulled back into the relegation battle thanks to their defeat.
Steve Coppell's side are just three points ahead of
Bolton Wanderers and five ahead of Fulham. The win was Fulham's first in 33 attempts.
Brian McBride scored in the first half for the Cottagers when he converted Simon Davies' cross from close-range.
Fulham had all the momentum in the match and looked like a side fighting for their place in the top flight. In the second half McBride struck the woodwork with a spectacular volley before Brede Hangeland forced Marcus Hahnemann to tip on to the bar.
The visitors continued to search for a second goal and were again denied by the frame of the goal when Jimmy Bullard's free-kick rebounded to safety.
However, in the closing minutes Erik Nevland fired home from the edge of the area to give his side belief with four games remaining in the season.
Sunderland will hope the seven-point gap between themselves and Bolton is enough of a cushion following a 2-1 defeat at home to
Manchester City.
All the goals were scored in an eventful final ten minutes of the match. First Nyron Nosworthy brought down Daniel Sturridge in the box and Elano scored the resulting penalty to give City the lead.
Sunderland went straight up the other end to equalise when Andy Reid crossed for Dean Whitehead. But with three minutes to go Darius Vassell bundled home the winner for Sven-Goran Eriksson's men.
At White Hart Lane
Tottenham Hotspur shared a 1-1 draw with
Middlesbrough. A Jonathan Grounds own-goal had given Spurs a 1-0 lead at the break.
But they were left to regret missing a host of chances when Stewart Downing's long-range shot deflected past Radek Cerny midway through the second half.