Goals from Brian McBride and Erik Nevland gave an inspired Fulham a 2-0 victory at Reading, their first away win in the Premier League since September 2006.

Their win at the Madejski Stadium shakes up the relegation battle, putting the Cottagers four points from safety.

But with Bolton's slim win over West Ham, Roy Hodgson's side are still in deep trouble at the foot of the table.

The Cottagers went into this game with a 33-match away-day hoodoo hanging over their heads and sore memories of a 1-3 defeat to Sunderland last weekend.

Reading, on the other hand, had won three and drawn one of their last six games.

Hodgson dropped Diomansy Kamara and gave a rare start to David Healy. Reading boss Steve Coppell left Dave Kitson on the bench and chose Shane Long to partner Kevin Doyle up front.

But Reading never looked sharp in their attacking play, and spent large amounts of the game chasing possession as Fulham dug in with an industrious and efficient display.

Although neither side looked particularly clinical in front of goal for much of the first half, Fulham had the best chance of the early stages when captain McBride got on the end of a Jimmy Bullard free-kick into the area. The American was unlucky to see his goalbound strike deflected for a corner.

Reading found some early joy down both flanks, with Fulham left-back Paul Konchesky looking particularly tired as his former team-mate Liam Rosenior continually blitzed past him, but his crosses failed to deliver goalscoring chances.

Fulham broke the deadlock on 24 minutes. The effervescent Simon Davies whipped in a perfect, pacey cross from the left and McBride stretched to fire the ball past a helpless Marcus Hahnemann in the Reading goal.

Fulham's captain put in a talismanic, gutsy performance throughout the 90 minutes, and his goal was thoroughly deserved.

Minutes later, he was in the thick of it again by saving his team from what should have been a Reading equaliser. McBride's famous heading skills bailed out his side when he got on the end of a corner to prevent the climbing Andre Bikey from making contact.

The second-half was all about the visitors as Reading began to look disinterested and short on ideas. Fulham struck the woodwork three times, and given their dismal away record, they had every reason to fear it wouldn't be their day.

First it was McBride who volleyed a powerful strike against the crossbar. Norwegian giant Brede Hangeland headed clinically - but straight at the bar - some twenty minutes later, before Jimmy Bullard's elegant free-kick clattered against the post.

Steve Coppell made three changes, throwing on Kalifa Cisse, Dave Kitson and Glen Little in an effort to equalise.

But it was Hodgson's switch that made the difference; Nevland, signed in the January transfer window, replaced Healy on 82 minutes and scored his first goal for the club with a clinical strike from inside the area in the dying minutes.

The 2,500 travelling Fulham fans duly erupted into a delighted frenzy as they celebrated what may yet prove to be a crucial victory.

Hodgson was more subdued in his reaction while Coppell will be justifiably furious with a side that looked as though they had nothing to play for.

The reality is that Fulham's famous victory leaves Reading in the relegation scrap, just three points from safety and with an away trip to Arsenal next on the fixture list.

Eddie de Oliveira / Eurosport