Fulham captain Brian McBride struck a vital second-half matchwinner against Everton to revive their hopes of avoiding relegation from the Barclays Premier League.
The American dented Everton's Champions League qualification dreams and boosted Fulham's chances of beating the drop when he headed home from a cross by Simon Davies in the 67th minute.
It was struggling Fulham's first victory since beating Aston Villa at Craven Cottage at the beginning of February and Roy Hodgson's side deserved to take all three points with a performance of grit and determination that Everton could not match.
The Cottagers began in sparkling fashion but their eagerness to get an early goal was all too evident when Jimmy Bullard scuffed a 20-yard shot that failed to trouble Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard.
Fulham were the only side in the match in the early stages and a delightfully chipped pass by Davies allowed McBride to try his luck with a left-foot volley that flashed past the far post.
Everton's lacklustre start was clearly of concern to manager David Moyes and their situation was not helped by an enforced substitution in the 13th minute.
England striker Andrew Johnson was replaced by Tony Hibbert after appearing to collect an ankle knock.
Fulham continued to seize the initiative and a cross from Davies was just too long for Johnson to take advantage.
The home side were guilty of some poor passing in the final third but they were rarely troubled by an Everton side that now relied on the solitary figure of Yakubu in attack.
It took the Merseysiders until the 24th minute to engineer their first real attempt at goal and then Steven Pienaar's effort bounced harmlessly wide of Kasey Keller's upright.
attacking guile
Everton were beginning to weather Fulham's early storm but they had little attacking guile - typified by a wasteful punt out of play by defender Phil Jagielka.
In the 36th minute, Fulham defender Brede Hangeland was caught out by some clever footwork from Yakubu but Everton wasted the free-kick when Mikel Arteta sent the ball behind the line for a goal kick.
The match had now lost its early promise and too many incomplete passes from either side meant for a disjointed affair in the blustery conditions.
Fulham's lack of confidence going forward was epitomised by the indecision of Davies in the 40th minute when the former Everton player found himself within shooting range on the edge of the penalty area.
But instead of trying his luck, Davies opted to play the ball out to Andreasen on the wing and the chance was lost when the Fulham player failed to keep it in play.
It was Everton who came closest to breaking the deadlock three minutes before the interval.
A smart move down the right flank involving Pienaar and Phil Neville ended with Yakubu finding space inside the penalty area. However, the Everton striker tried to use power to beat Keller and the Fulham goalkeeper was able to palm the ball to safety.
Fulham began the second period full of intent but the lack of invention from the midfield continued to ensure the scoresheet remained blank.
little surprise
Everton were equally unimpressive with creativity at a minimum although a rare burst of pace from Neville brought a booking for Fulham's Danny Murphy in the 55th minute when he checked his run with an ungainly lunge.
Fulham's Johnson managed to win a corner in the 59th minute but when Jimmy Bullard played the ball into the area, the Fulham striker headed over from six yards.
The home side had to make their pressure tell but when Bullard floated over another corner three minutes later it was Davies who sent his header over the crossbar.
It was little surprise that Fulham could not find an opening as Everton's last away defeat in the Barclays Premier League was last December at Old Trafford.
But the breakthrough finally arrived in the 67th minute through captain McBride.
The goal owed much to the skill and endeavour of Davies on the left flank who sent over a perfect cross for the American striker to head home.
It was just reward for the home side who had kept their more illustrious opponents subdued for much of the contest.
It proved to be enough for Fulham to hang on to all three points and leave them, momentarily at least, three points from safety at the foot of the table.
