Doomed City hampered by Fayed fire

RELEGATION battles can be decided by many things. An ill-timed muscle tweak, a shot that kisses the post rather than embracing the net or a linesman's errant flag have all proved decisive in recent years. But never can the difference have been made by a pep-talk from an Egyptian septuagenarian who counts calling the Duke of Edinburgh “a Nazi” as one of his less outrageous remarks.

Then again, Fulham and Mohamed Al Fayed have never fitted the classical Premier League template. Craven Cottage, with its antique stands, idyllic riverside setting and curious mix of supporters — half grizzled die-hards, half bemused Japanese tourists — is an odd outpost for the world's most rapaciously commercial league, while Al Fayed is undoubtedly its most eccentric owner.

No other chairman would dare venture into the dressing room moments before a relegation decider, making wild promises of £5,000 Harrods hampers stuffed full of smoked salmon and caviar in the event of survival. But Al Fayed has always done things his own way and while his previous attempt at rabble-rousing, in the witness box at the British high court, ended in farce and ridicule, some stirring words here might just have ensured another season spent swanning around English football's most glittering venues.

“I fired them up,” he said afterwards, holding court alongside a gaggle of minders and the Renault Formula One chief Flavio Briatore. “I told them that if we go down they are down with us. But they are fantastic boys and they believe in their will to win and their success.

“Today, maybe God was helping us. The boys had a fantastic will but my belief has always stayed the same. My words were just encouraging them to believe in themselves and that there is nothing difficult. You saw today that it was fantastic — just fighting, fighting all the time. I'm very grateful to them.”

Roy Hodgson is one of the few top flight managers who probably considers Al Fayed's behaviour restrained. The Londoner's most prestigious job in a career spanning eight countries and 32 years came at Internazionale, where the colourful owner Massimo Moratti routinely blurred the line between boardroom and dressing room.

“He was always coming in to see the players,” Hodgson recalled. “I think it's good: it shows the players that the chairman is 100 per cent behind them and identifies with their problems.”

Hodgson simply laughed when he was asked whether Al Fayed would be issuing another clarion call before next week's encounter with Portsmouth although, on the evidence of this polished performance, Fulham have no need of lucky mascots. Assured on the ball, sturdy in defence and fuelled by the effervescent Brian McBride and Jimmy Bullard, a trip to opponents who would be forgiven for having both eyes, let alone one, on the FA Cup final should hold no fears.

Supporters always like to claim their own survival bid to be the Greatest Escape, but Fulham's might just have a case. There was a point, nine days ago, when the club were as good as relegated: two goals down at Manchester City and with other results going against them, this match looked certain to have the feel of a wake.

But three late goals at Eastlands, some help from elsewhere and now this well deserved victory — secured by McBride's 52nd-minute header and a late clincher from the substitute Erik Nevland — means Fulham are on the cusp of a remarkable achievement. Their survival would be well received by many beyond this leafy corner of south-west London, who appreciate Hodgson's dignified bearing and his commitment to a neat passing style.

“People say Roy is old school, but he is a top manager,” Bullard said. “He's great with the players: he doesn't take any crap and doesn't tell you crap. I said to him the other day: 'Sod being a manager, Roy, with all these pressures'. But he said he loves it. He is a football man, I suppose.”

Alex McLeish, the Birmingham manager, is another who would be missed by the neutrals but his team is now an endangered species.

The manager may have been assured his future was safe yesterday by City’s co-owner David Gold, but the club’s Premier League destiny was wrenched from their own hands here and even beating Blackburn at home on Sunday will not be enough if either Fulham or Reading also win.

“The players have come a long way on this journey and I'm sure that they will build themselves up again,” he said, rather wistfully. “They are entitled to believe given some of the results we have had against the top teams — it's the others which have been the problem. But that's the frailty of the human mind for you.”

FULHAM (4-4-2): Keller 6, Stalteri 6, Hughes 7, Hangeland 7, Konchesky 6, Davies 8, Bullard 9, Murphy 7, Dempsey 7, Kamara 6 (Nevland 67, 7), McBride 8.

Subs Not Used: Warner, Bocanegra, Healy, Andreasen.

BIRMINGHAM (4-4-2): Maik Taylor 7, Kelly 5, Jaidi 6, Ridgewell 5 (Queudrue 45, 4), Murphy 5, Larsson 5, Muamba 5, Johnson 6, Kapo 5 (Zarate 58, 4), Forssell 5 (Jerome 74, 4), McFadden 6.

Subs Not Used: Doyle, Parnaby.

REFEREE: Chris Foy (Merseyside) 7: Let down by his assistants on more than one occasion but was largely reliable, which both teams appreciated.

MATCH RATING: *** Never flowed but relegation squabbles rarely do. Fulham were worthy winners, Birmingham look doomed.