Cardiff’s Premier League survival hopes are hanging by a thread after Ryan Babel’s screamer gave relegated Fulham a 1-0 victory at Craven Cottage.
The Dutchman’s late strike secured a third successive win for Scott Parker’s side since they were sent down, and leaves Neil Warnock’s men on the brink.
Cardiff knew that victory would have put them level on points with 17th-placed Brighton, who play Newcastle in the late kick-off, but struggled to create chances in what was a largely drab affair.
Given their vastly inferior goal difference, it looks likely that the Bluebirds will need to take at least four points from their remaining games, against Crystal Palace and Man United, to have any chance of toppling the Seagulls, who face Newcastle, Arsenal and Man City.
Both sides made just once change to their respective starting line-ups, with Tom Cairney returning to captain Fulham and Leandro Bacuna replacing Joe Ralls for the visitors.
This game may well be a Championship fixture next season and that showed in a first half of few chances, with Aleksandr Mitrovic’s curling effort that was palmed away by Neil Etheridge the closest either side came.
The opening period was overshadowed by a worrying head injury to Denis Odoi, who was eventually stretchered off after receiving almost ten minutes of treatment on the field from both sets of medical staff.
The hosts should have been ahead shortly after the restart when Cairney cut back to Mitrovic in acres of space 12 yards out, but the Serbian skied his effort well over the bar.
It wasn’t until 12 minutes from time that Babel showed him how it was done, whipping a stunning strike into the top corner from 25 yards after Cyrus Christie’s lay off.
Cardiff hadn’t forced Sergio Rico into a meaningful save all afternoon, but they threatened to rescue a point late on. Junior Hoilett spurned the best chance, two minutes from time, as Bobby Reid’s shot was blocked into his path but he could only smash the ball against the bar.
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