Fulham strengthen playoff prospects

budget compared to many of his rivals.

Fulham’s victory — their superb seam of form perfectly timed for the business end of the campaign — also means Newcastle, whose own form has dipped of late, can seal the second and last automatic promotion spot today if they beat Preston North End.

The club his father Brian turned into unlikely two-time European Cup winners Nottingham Forest also did their hopes of staying in the second tier a world of good by beating playoff hopefuls Reading 3-2.

Meanwhile, not even Harry Redknapp has the answer to Gabby Agbonlahor in a Second City derby, it transpires. Redknapp’s return to management ended in a damaging defeat courtesy of Birmingham's most familiar foe yesterday.

Aston Villa were a Premier League team the last time Agbonlahor found the net but the fire for facing his club’s fiercest rivals still burns and his first goal in 14 months deepens the grim possibility Birmingham will be in League One next season.

A scrappy match low on quality was ignited by Agbonlahor's introduction in the 59th minute and decided by his finish into the roof of the net nine minutes later.

It was the fifth time Agbonlahor has scored against Birmingham and he celebrated with all the passion of a life-long Villa fan. Agencies