Fulham claim vital three points but so does (almost) everyone else

FULHAM MUST HAVE thought they were right back in the hunt to escape relegation when they defeated Aston Villa 2-1 at Villa Park.

Goals from Kieran Richardson and Hugo Rodallega gave the struggling Londoners a vital three points. Felix Magath’s side were level going into the final minutes, after Grant Holt levelled for the home side, but Rodellaga scored with an 86th minute header. The shame for Fulham, then, is that almost all of their closest rivals also won.

Crystal Palace beat Cardiff City, who now fall to 19th, while Hull City recorded a 1-0 win over Swansea and West Brom won a relegation six-pointer against Norwich at Carrow Road. Fulham’s result sees them climb to 18th, however, and five points off the Canaries.

Palace, fresh from their 1-0 win over Chelsea last week, were too good for Cardiff. Jason Puncheon scored a goal in each half and former Celtic player Joe Ledley got his team’s second goal, on 71 minutes. City boss Ole Gunar Solksjaer accused his side, playing at home, of lacking belief.

Jason Puncheon scores for Crystal Palace. PA Wire / Press Association Images PA Wire / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Hull forward George Boyd, returning from his three-match ban for spitting at Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart, got the winner for his team. Boyd scored a bullet header after 39 minutes to move the Tigers up to 12th in the league.

Norwich boss Chris Hughton will be feeling the heat after witnessing his side fold against the Baggies and come out on the wrong side of a 1-0 result. Morgan Amalfitano’s fine first half strike settled the contest, although the Canaries will feel unfortunate to have finished with 0 points after they twice struck the bar through Gary Hooper and Robert Snodgrass.

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