Birmingham City vs Fulham match report: Cottagers finally get off the mark

Birmingham City 1 Fulham 2

Fulham striker Hugo Rodallega has criticised manager Rene Meulensteen (PA)

After eight games without a win since their relegation from the Premier League Fulham finally ended their miserable start to the season with a 2-1 Championship victory over Birmingham City at St Andrew’s.

Two second half goals from their German and Colombian imports, Tim Hoogland and Hugo Rodallega, enabled the west Londoners to savour the rate taste of victory.

They trailed by a first half goal from Dave Cotterill and were let off the hook on several occasions by Birmingham’s indifferent finishing before they hit back in determined style to the delight of their 903 travelling fans.

The win was also the first in league under the control of caretaker manager, Kit Symons.

New Leeds manager Darko Milanic suffered a defeat in his first game in charge, as Ramallo Jota and Alan McCormack were both on target in a 2-0 home win for Brentford.

In Scotland, the on-loan Manchester City forward John Guidetti scored twice to give Celtic a 2-1 victory at St Mirren. Guidetti, however, is ineligible for Celtic’s next match – Thursday’s Europa League Group D meeting with Dinamo Zagreb, as his loan move had not been finalised in time for Uefa’s deadline.

Everton Ladies will be relegated from the Women’s Super League 1 today if they fail to win at second-bottom Notts County, but their manager, Andy Spence, remains optimistic.

“We just need to match that same level of performance we showed in the cup earlier this year,” he said. “Hopefully we can come out with a victory.”