Fulham climbed from the bottom three for the first time since before Christmas, Blackburn rumbled past the Rams and Spurs dropped Reading into the danger zone.

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ROVERS DOWN HAPLESS DERBY
Derby's long-lost season stumbled towards its final date with a 3-1 collapse at Blackburn.

US veterans Brad Friedel and Eddie Lewis saw action, but again there was no place for Benny Feilhaber, who remained an unused substitute for the visitors.

The Rams will end their luckless Premier League campaign with the lowest points total since the division's inception in 1992.

Kenny Miller slotted Brad Friedel in the 19th minute to give Derby the lead, but Rovers' Paraguayan ace Roque Santa Cruz leveled on the stroke of halftime after Rams goalkeeper Roy Carroll failed to hold on to a Morten Gamst Pedersen effort.

Jason Roberts fired coolly past Carroll two minutes after the break to put the home side into the lead, before Santa Cruz added his second and Blackburn's third with a header off a David Bentley cross with 12 minutes remaining.

Friedel went the distance as Blackburn moved up to seventh, just outside the UEFA Cup zone but still in with a shout of a place in Europe via the Intertoto Cup. Lewis made way for Emanuel Villa in the 72nd minute.

Blackburn conclude their season on Saturday away at Birmingham, while Derby host relegation-threatened Reading.

Scoring
DC - Kenny Miller 4 19'
BLA - Roque Santa Cruz 18 45'
BLA - Jason Roberts 3 47'
BLA - Roque Santa Cruz 19 77'

Line-ups
BLA - Brad Friedel; Andy Reid, Christopher Samba, Ryan Nelsen, Stephen Warnock, David Bentley, Brett Emerton, Johann Vogel (Tugay 61'), Morten Gamst Pedersen (Martin Olsson 79'), Roque Santa Cruz, Jason Roberts (Matt Derbyshire 79')

DC - Roy Carroll; Andy Todd, Miles Addison, Darren Moore, James McEveley, Tyrone Mears, Robbie Savage, Hossam Ghaly (Mile Sterjovski 66'), Eddie Lewis (Emanuel Villa 72'), Robert Earnshaw, Kenny Miller

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MCBRIDE THROWS FULHAM LIFELINE
Brian McBride's fourth goal of the season spurred Fulham on to a priceless 2-0 victory over fellow strugglers Birmingham, and keeps the Cottagers just alive as the fight for Premier League survival enters the last day of the season.

A classic "Bake" header from a Jimmy Bullard set piece broke the deadlock in the 52nd minute after both teams, in desperate need of a win, spurned chances.

Fulham were good money for their win as they dominated the second half, and as Birmingham threw men into attack in the hope of a leveler, Erik Nevland broke upfield in the 87th to slot past Roy Carroll and bag the points.

Kasey Keller went the distance in goal for Fulham and Clint Dempsey soldiered up front until being replaced by David Healy in the final minute. Carlos Bocanegra remained an unused substitute.

Following last weekend's win at Manchester City, Fulham had the bit between their teeth and could have scored early on when Blues goalkeeper Maik Taylor pulled off a stunning save from Simon Davies.

The visitors might have scored on the half hour, but Mikael Forssell miscued in front of goal.

After McBride's strike, Dempsey almost made it an American double, but nodded wide of the gaping goal in the 73rd.

Radhi Jaidi spurned Birmingham's last chance eight minutes before the end, heading off-target, before Fulham sealed the points.

Fulham traded places with Reading and now must win at Portsmouth to ensure Premier League survival, barring a goalfest at Derby from the Royals, who trail the Cottagers by six goals going into the deciding matches.

Scoring
FUL - Brian McBride 4 52'
FUL - Erik Nevland 2 87'

Line-ups
FUL - Kasey Keller; Paul Stalteri, Aaron Hughes, Brede Hangeland, Paul Konchesky, Simon Davies, Jimmy Bullard (Leon Andreasen 88'), Danny Murphy, Clint Dempsey (David Healy 90'), Diomansy Kamara (Erik Nevland 67'), Brian McBride.

BIR - Maik Taylor; Stephen Kelly, Radhi Jaidi, Liam Ridgewell (Franck Queudrue 46'), David Murphy, Sebastian Larsson, Fabrice Muamba, Damien Johnson, Oliver Kapo (Mauro Zarate 58'), Mikael Forssell (Cameron Jerome 74'), James McFadden

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ROYALS ON THE PRECIPICE
The season after narrowly missing out on a UEFA Cup spot, Reading are peering into the abyss after a 1-0 loss to Tottenham sent them into the bottom three on goal difference with a game to play.

Marcus Hahnemann went the distance between the sticks, but Bobby Convey was once more absent from the game-day squad.

Robbie Keane finished off a Tottenham surge in the 16th minute for the game's only mark, but both sides had opportunities to score over the 90.

Hahnemann made a top-drawer stop to deny Darren Bent early on but it was clear Reading were in for another troubled afternoon as their defense was carved open several times by the visitors in the first half.

The American denied Keane with another great save but was beaten by Malbranque, whose goal was wrongly disallowed for offside.

Tottenham were on top at the interval and Malbranque and Bent could have increased their lead shortly afterwards.

Reading revved up as the clock counted down and news spread of Fulham's lead, but could get no closer than an Andre Bikey long-range poke deflected over the bar, and a Marek Matejovsky shot swerving just wide of the upright.

Bent slammed the foot of the post at the other end before Dave Kitson drew a save from Radek Cerny and Liam Rosenior tested the Spurs keeper with a 20-yard effort, but no goal arrived.

A mood of dejection and a little fear washed around the Madejski at the final whistle as the Royals slipped into the drop zone with only 90 minutes to play on the season.

Reading must hope they come away with a win at Derby on Saturday and that Fulham slip up at Portsmouth. Should Fulham win, the Cottagers' superior goal difference will end the Royals' top flight adventure after only two seasons.

Scoring
TOTT - Robbie Keane 15 16'

Line-ups
REA - Marcus Hahnemann; Liam Rosenior (Dominic Oster 88'), Ingimarsson, Michael Duberry, Nicky Shorey, Kevin Doyle (Shane Long 80'), James Harper, Andre Bikey (Marek Matejovsky 65'), Stephen Hunt, Leroy Lita, Dave Kitson

TOTT - Radek Cerny; Alan Hutton, Michael Dawson, Jonathan Woodgate, Gilberto, Jermaine Jenas, Didier Zokora, Tom Huddlestone (Jamie O'Hara 61'), Steed Malbranque, Robbie Keane (Kevin-Prince Boateng 77'), Darren Bent

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ON THE SIDELINE
Jonathan Spector was not named to West Ham's 16 for their 4-1 defeat at his former club, Manchester United. The Hammers are 10th in the Premier League.

Frank Simek is still recovering from injury and missed Sheffield Wednesday's 4-1 win over Norwich, which ensured the Owls' Championship survival.

Jay DeMerit was not named to Watford's 16 for their 1-1 tie at Blackpool which confirmed the Hornets' place in the promotion playoffs.

Zak Whitbread missed Millwall's 2-1 loss at Swindon through injury, but the Lions have avoided relegation from League One.

Jemal Johnson played 75 minutes in League Two champions MK Dons' 1-0 win over Morecambe.