A game that turned out to be the final straw for Fulham boss Kit Symons, who lost his job as a result of their 5-2 defeat to Birmingham City yesterday. 

Gary Rowett's Birmingham got back to winning ways in emphatic fashion at Fulham
Gary Rowett's Birmingham got back to winning ways in emphatic fashion at Fulham

 

Birmingham took charge of the game and went 3-0 up at half time thanks to goals from Stephen Gleeson, Paul Caddis and Jon Toral.

Things went from bad to worse for the hosts, as Fulham’s James Husband was sent off for a second bookable offence early in the second half.

Alexander Kacaniklic pulled one back for the hosts but Clayton Donaldson and Viv Solomon-Otabor sealed the points for the visitors, either side of Ross McCormack's strike.

Gary Rowett's side are now three points ahead of seventh place Cardiff City on 28 points, while Fulham slipped down to 12th in the table.

Here is three things that we learned from yesterday's game:

1) Fulham’s thumping to Birmingham sealed Symons fate

Symons needed a positive performance from today’s game but this hammering to the Midlands side finally pushed the owner Shahid Khan too far, and he finally lost patience with his manager.

The Welshman becomes the fourth manager in two years to be dismissed by the London side.

Fulham have lost six of their 16 Championship matches this season and they sit 12th in the League.

Whether Symons deserved to lose his job is debatable, but with the investment over the summer, fans would have expected a much better start to the season.

2) Birmingham end their goal drought

What a way to end a drought by putting five goals past the West London side.

It looked like Birmingham’s strike force had dried up after they had been wasteful in the last few weeks in the final third.

However, there was no evidence of that at Craven Cottage. Top scorer Donaldson looked sharp and Birmingham were far quicker out of their half than Fulham.

3) Fulham’s defensive problems

Although Fulham are not shy of a goal or two, you can’t win matches without a good defence.

Birmingham’s five goals scored against Fulham on Saturday meant that the West London club have conceded 28 goals this season, only bottom club Rotherham United have conceded more.

Whoever comes in to replace Symons will need to work extra on Fulham’s defensive set up.

Fulham and Birmingham fans.... what did you make of the game? Did Symons deserve the sack? Who is the right man to come in? Can Birmingham finish in the top six? Let us know your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!