Papa Bouba Diop's knack of scoring decisive late goals surfaced again to earn victory for Chris Coleman's side at St Andrews.

Diop had scored an injury-time winner against West Brom last weekend to follow on from his last-gasp equaliser against Manchester United before Christmas.

And the Senegal international struck again with eight minutes remaining as the Cottagers came from behind to claim their third away win of the season

It doomed below par Birmingham to a fourth successive Premiership defeat as they began life after Robbie Savage.

But they will feel harshly done by after Andy Cole scored a controversial penalty to put Fulham back on level terms after there had appeared to be minimal contact on Luis Boa Morte by Damien Johnson.

Birmingham fans cried 'cheat, cheat' towards the Portuguese player who had already been booked for diving by referee Phil Dowd.

But their anger should not mask a display lacking in invention and inspiration as Fulham continued their climb away from the relegation zone.

Blues boss Steve Bruce needs the likes of David Dunn and Muzzy Izzet to regain fitness as quickly as possible to give them that spark.

The first half was a turgid affair with precious little in the way of creativity and goalmouth action from both sides.

Johnson had a shot blocked on the edge of the area as Blues enjoyed most of the early possession but there was a strangely subdued atmosphere around St Andrews from the first whistle.

Andy Cole, who played as the lone striker for Fulham, caused a hint of danger after battling past the challenge of Kenny Cunningham but he was crowded out by the Blues defence.

Bored Birmingham fans broke into a chant of 'who the heck is Robbie Savage' following the departure of the controversial midfielder to Blackburn.

The first hint of danger came after 21 minutes when winger Julian Gray shrugged off the challenge of Moritz Volz but he over-hit the pass through to Emile Heskey and Edwin van Der Sar was able to collect.

Diao evoked memories of Savage with a crude challenge on Luis Boa Morte and he was fortunate to escape a yellow card from lenient referee Phil Dowd.

Fulham came more into the game and Blues 'keeper Maik Taylor was then mightily relieved after his clearance was charged down by Boa Morte and the rebound ricocheted across the face of his goal area.

After 39 minutes Cole came within inches of breaking the deadlock for the visitors. The former England striker made a diagonal run to race onto a pass from Bocanegra and his shot from a narrow angle went just past the far post.

Johnson should have done better as he headed wide when well placed to meet a Gray cross but that was the sum total of the first half's entertainment.

Fulham came close to taking the lead in the first minute of the second half. The Blues defence looked asleep when Clark played a pass through to Boa Morte and he managed to shrug off the challenge of Cunningham.

But from the left hand side of Taylor's six yard box he screwed his shot across the face of goal and this proved to be a costly miss for after 51 minutes Heskey's persistence helped to put Birmingham ahead.

Mario Melchiot's cross took a slight deflection and was then flicked across goal by Clinton Morrison with Heskey bundling the ball goalwards from close range although Volz got the final touch.

Fulham tried to retaliate and Maik Taylor did well to turn over a rising effort from Cole after Volz had supplied the pass.

But then Boa More was booked for ungentlemanly conduct after referee Dowd felt he had dived when challenged by Maik Taylor in the Blues area.

Fulham got back on level terms when Johnson was adjudged to have fouled Boa Morte and Dowd pointed to the spot although only minimal contact appeared to be made.

Then came Diop's late winner as he found himself unmarked at the far post to head home Pembridge's free-kick.

Teams

Birmingham Maik Taylor, Melchiot, Clapham, Cunningham, Martin Taylor (Yorke 86), Johnson (Anderton 83), Diao, Carter, Gray, Morrison (Blake 69), Heskey.

Subs Not Used: Tebily, Vaesen.

Booked: Johnson.

Goals: Volz 51 og.

Fulham Van der Sar, Volz, Bocanegra, Knight, Rehman, Clark, Diop, Pembridge, Radzinski, Cole (McBride 89), Boa Morte.

Subs Not Used: Legwinski, Crossley, John, Rosenior.

Booked: Boa Morte, Diop, Bocanegra.

Goals: Cole 78 pen, Diop 83.

Att: 28,512

Ref: P Dowd (Staffordshire).