At the 18th time of asking, Fulham finally registered an away win in the Premiership.

Steed Malbranque - a man Manchester City boss Stuart Pearce tried to buy in the summer - proved to be the Cottagers injury-time hero, finishing off a lightning counter-attack as the visitors turned the game on its head in the last five minutes.

After picking up only four points on their travels all season, the contest seemed to be following a familiarly depressing pattern for Fulham when Richard Dunne swept City in front midway through the second period.

But, after substitute Georgios Samaras had wasted an excellent opportunity to double the hosts' lead, Collins John flashed home a close-range leveller for Fulham.

And then, once Liam Rosenior had denied Samaras with a brilliant goalline clearance, Fulham poured forward in stoppage time and Malbranque lashed home from 20 yards.

It was tough luck on the hosts, who edged a lively contest but ultimately, their failure to apply the killer touch cost them dear.

This was a game for which the phrase 'meaningless end-of-season fixture' might have been invented and the enterprising approach of both sides suggested the pressures of the past eight months were no longer being applied and they effect was an open, enterprising first half which lacked only a goal.

Fulham made their attacking intentions clear inside the opening minute when full-back Liam Rosenior strode onto a Heidar Helguson cut-back and drove narrowly wide.

From that moment on, chances came and went at regular intervals without bringing a breakthrough for either side.

The best opportunity fell to City, which was just about in keeping with the balance of play. Antoine Sibierski, recalled in place of £6million striker Georgios Samaras, showed excellent anticipation to read where Joey Barton's free-kick was going to drop but, after controlling inside the six-yard area, fired against Antti Niemi's legs.

Niemi twice denied Trevor Sinclair, and also Claudio Reyna, although David James was hardly idle in the City goal.

The impressive Simon Elliott brought an excellent fingertip save from the England keeper, although Cottagers skipper Luis Boa Morte should have done far better than glance a close-range header wide seven minutes before the break.

By then, Fulham had lost central defender Zat Knight to what appeared to be a back injury, so they were thankful when Steed Malbranque recovered from a ferocious tackle from Joey Barton, which brought the game's first booking.

It was a harsh call on the combative midfielder as the challenge was reminiscent of one of his manager's and clearly took the ball before Malbranque was pole-axed.

At least it proved Barton remains committed to the City cause although, with his contract dispute still unresolved, the odds remain that his Blues career will end against Blackburn next Sunday.

Riera's City future also remains open to debate as his loan move from Espanyol is due to expire in the summer.

The Spaniard showed his capabilities in an outstanding second half display at Aston Villa in midweek and he maintained that form against Fulham, darting down the left flank at regular intervals and getting himself involved in most of City's attacking moves.

Sibierski's influence also continued to grow throughout the contest, although, when the opener arrived midway through the second period, neither of the continental duo was involved.

Dunne's effort came straight out of the route-one manual as Barton planted a free-kick onto the head of Micah Richards.

The youngster's last appearance on the ground had been in City's failed Youth Cup final bid. But the academy ranks will soon be a distant memory for the highly-rated 17-year-old, whose firm header fell perfectly for Dunne to sweep home.

Samaras should have doubled City's lead not long afterwards but his failure to convert from an acute angle set up a thrilling finale, which began when Fulham substitute John beat Dunne to Boa Morte's near-post cut-back and bundled home.

City must have thought they had got the win when Samaras exchanged passes with Sinclair and beat Niemi with a deft flick, only for Rosenior to race back and head away from virtually underneath the bar.

How important that clearance proved to be as, with virtually the final attack, Malbranque handed Fulham the away win they have been craving since last August.

Teams

Man City James, Richards, Dunne, Distin, Sommeil, Sinclair,Barton, Reyna, Riera, Sibierski (Flood 80),Vassell (Samaras 66).

Subs Not Used: Weaver, Musampa, Jihai.

Booked: Barton.

Goals: Dunne 69.

Fulham Niemi, Rosenior, Knight (Christanval 26), Pearce,Bridge, Malbranque, Diop, Elliott, Boa Morte,Helguson (John 66), McBride.

Subs Not Used: Crossley, Volz, Radzinski.

Booked: Diop, Christanval, Malbranque.

Goals: John 84, Malbranque 90.

Att: 41,128

Ref: P Walton (Northamptonshire).