Birmingham City have had their fill of Fulham

May 1 2008 By Colin Tattum

FULHAM. Mention to most Blues fans of a certain age, or those who know their history, and the response will be the same: a sigh and a shake of the head.

In 1975,  Dave Latchford was hit in the face by a John Mitchell shot which then rebounded back off the Fulham striker's shoulder  and bobbled over the  line.

Overall, Blues have an excellent record against Fulham. And they have not lost in their last 12 league visits to the west Londoners.

Robert Hopkins helped Blues to one of their seven wins during that sequence, which stretches back to 1968.

Hopkins and Vince Overson scored in a 2-1 success in April 1990, as Blues finished their first ever season in the old Third Division just short of the play-off zone.

"I don't remember that goal, but I remember the semi-final," Hopkins reflected. "Talk about Fulham, and that's what most Blues fans will bring up.

"I was 14 or 15, I went to the first game at Hillsborough and then Maine Road. I remember there was a couple of minutes left and my dad was sorting out a lift for the second replay, which was going to be at Highbury, then all of a sudden they scored.

"Everyone was absolutely gutted. We couldn't believe it. It still hurts to this day.

"Maybe if we win on Saturday, stay up and send them down, it will make up for it a little bit."