Goals from Emile Heskey, Darren Carter and Robbie Savage saw Blues take all three points following another impressive performance. Indeed, Blues fans may well have settled for a point prior to kick-off, given the team's injury worries, but it was better than that.
In the 48 hours between the Middlesbrough victory and this game, much of the talk had understandably been of injuries - particularly to David Dunn and Heskey. Everyone knew Dunn would be missing, and suspected Heskey too would be absent. However Heskey was clearly passed fit, as he took his place up front alongside Clinton Morrison. Stan Lazaridis though obviously has another knock, as he didn't make the 16. Mario Melchiot came in for him, but played right-back, with Mr Versatile Olivier Tebily switching to left-back. Jamie Clapham completed a hat-trick of full-backs by taking Dunn's position wide on the left.
The game started scrappily, and neither team could really get on top. It became obvious though that Fulham were poor, and that Blues were the stronger side. Heskey and Morrison continued their excellent combination work, whilst Carter and Savage began to boss midfield.
After 25 minutes, Blues went 1-0 up thanks to a fine goal from Emile Heskey, who is fast becoming a real hero of the Blues fans. Savage won the ball in midfield and found Morrison who played in Heskey whose strength took him past a defender, and whose stunning strike flew into the roof of the net.
Blues were well on top now, which is why it was such a blow when Fulham equalised just 8 minutes later, and rather fortuitously at that. Papa Bouba Diop - of scoring the first goal at the World Cup in 2002 fame - fired a shot that looked to be going wide before it was deflected into the path of Tomasz Radzinski. The Canadian forward then crossed to Sylvain Legwinski who fell back whilst shooting, but still found the top corner.
It was cruel to Blues who had dominated, and moments later went close through a good Carter drive, but the equaliser seemed also to shell-shock them for a time as panic defending set in. Fulham went close on a couple of occasions, before just 5 minutes before the interval Carter settled Blues nerves by making it 2-1. Heskey's aeriel power caused havoc again, and his nod down fell into Carter's path, and the young Brummie slotted the ball home right-footed past Edwin Van Der Sar very coolly.
Blues could even have hit a third just moments before half-time, when Morrison evaded the offside trap, and was left one-on-one with Van Der Sar. Morrison though used his usual technique for shooting, which involves leaning back a lot so the ball isn't really under control. His shot was very similar to his effort at Villa Park, but the Dutch 'keeper here is a lot better than the Danish 'keeper there, and it was easy for him.
Under-fire Chris Coleman clearly laid into his side at half-time, and they came out flying in the second half, with Maik Taylor - who for 90 minutes exceeded his usual woeful kicking standards - saving from Andy Cole.
However, after 52 minutes, it was 3-1 to Blues. Again Heskey was involved, laying the ball off to Savage. The Welshman, possibly making his final appearance in a Blues shirt, flicked the ball up with his right foot, and unleashed a dipping volley with his left that looped over Van Der Sar to complete a hat-trick of Blues players scoring with their 'wrong' foot.
Blues were fairly comfortable after this, without pressing too much themselves. Fulham enjoyed possession aplenty, but were wasteful. Cole was always a threat, but otherwise the home side lacked any real cutting edge. Substitute Elvis Hammond headed straight at Taylor when well placed late on, and then Cole headed wide moments later when he should have done better.
In the 92nd minute Fulham got a consolation goal, when Radzinski turned a low drive into the back of the net. Special mention must go to the Blues fan sat behind me who was delirious at this point, as he'd backed Heskey to score first and Blues to win 3-2 at Ladbrokes before the game, and won £600, so well done, Sir. The goal meant more to him than it did to Fulham, and the final whistle went moments later.
This was a fine win for Blues, as they fielded a bit of a makeshift team (Tebily and Clapham as left-back and left winger respectively). More so though, it was a continuation of improving form, and at a fairly tough place to go. Fulham had drawn with Manchester United at Craven Cottage two weeks ago. Most Blues fans, when considering all this, may well have been happy with a point prior to kick-off, but they left ecstatic with all three.