Fulham steal it at the death

Man City 1 Fulham 2:  Steed Malbranque's injury-time effort handed Fulham their first away win of the season. The Cottagers only brought themselves back on level terms five minutes from time when Collins John levelled Richard Dunne's second-half opener.

But, after Liam Rosenior had denied Georgios Samaras with a brilliant goalline clearance, Malbranque provided the finishing touch to a Fulham break and smashed his shot past David James.

Fulham boss Chris Coleman named an unchanged line-up as the Cottagers' search for an elusive first Premiership away win.

Having wiped away any lingering fears of relegation by beating Wigan on Monday, Fulham boss Chris Coleman has already started strengthening for next season by signing Jimmy Bullard.

And Coleman was hoping to take advantage of City's poor recent home form by claiming a win which would allow them to leapfrog their hosts, whose manager Stuart Pearce made one change from the side that beat Aston Villa on Tuesday, recalling Antoine Sibierski in place of £6million striker Georgios Samaras.

For a game which the phrase 'meaningless end-of-season encounter' could have been invented, the contest started in pretty lively fashion.

Fulham could easily have been in front inside the opening minute when they switched play to the right and Heidar Helguson found Liam Rosenior with a neat cut-back.

The 21-year-old is by no means a prolific scorer but there was plenty of confidence in his shot which went whistling pass David James' goal.

City responded instantly but Sibierski delayed too long over his shot and Antti Niemi was able to make a comfortable save.

Fulham suffered a blow midway through the opening period when Zat Knight appeared to hurt his back as he landed awkwardly after challenging for a header inside the Fulham area.

It was immediately apparent Knight could not continue and Philippe Christanval was introduced in his place.

Diop was booked for the latest in a series of petty fouls, this time on Riera and, from the free-kick, the hosts went in front.

It was pure route one too as Barton lofted the ball into the box and Richards headed it to the edge of the six-yard box, where Dunne was waiting to smash it home with a well-taken shot on the turn.

Fulham levelled through John, who steered Boa Morte's cut-back home at the near post after nipping in front of Dunne.

But there was still one twist in the tale.  Fulham poured forward in injury-time and Malbranque - a man Pearce tried to buy in the summer - blasted home from the edge of the box.  PA