FULHAM 3, Wanderers 0: WHOEVER coined the phrase about the show not being over until the fat lady hits the high notes must have been inspired by a Premiership survival struggle.

Everyone assumes Wanderers are safe and, for all their reluctance to say it publicly, that includes Sam Allardyce and his players.

Surely Ipswich do not have it in them to make up seven points in just three games - two of which are against Manchester United and Liverpool!

Yet it was only four days ago that Jean Tigana's Fulham were three points adrift of Wanderers as they travelled to play Leeds United, who were chasing a Champions League place.

Today, having followed up their shock win at Elland Road with victory over Wanderers, Fulham are not just three points to the good, they are safe. For all their debts - £61 million at the last count - they will be playing Premiership football next season while Big Sam and his survival squad must wait.

They should still be confident. Only a fool would swap places with Ipswich manager George Burley and Allardyce is no fool.

But he was an angry and disappointed man as he left Craven Cottage last night, knowing he could have been sitting pretty in the knowledge that he too will be competing in the top flight for a second successive season.

The anger came from the belief that two refereeing decisions in the space of those four deeply significant days had cost Wanderers as many as five safety points.

Two were lost on Saturday when "rookie" referee Matt Messias disallowed the Michael Ricketts "goal" which would have turned a fairly satisfying 1-1 draw with Spurs

into a decisive 2-1 win and three more went begging in SW6 when the vastly experienced Paul Durkin waved away penalty appeals when Kevin Nolan went down under Sylvain Legwinski's challenge. The clock was on 30 minutes, the score was 0-0 and Wanderers were playing well.

They had threatened to score as early as the first minute when Simon Charlton delivered a long ball for Fredi Bobic, who worked wonders in getting between Andy Melville and Alain Goma - only to see Edwin Van Der Saar pull off what turned out to be a vital save.

But the half would end in bitter disappointment with Bjarne Goldbaek leaving the field to a standing ovation, having broken the deadlock to set Fulham on their way to victory.

Wanderers did what they could to get back on terms but two goals in the space of four minutes - a sweet strike by Steve Marlet then a resounding finish by Barry Hayles after Steed Malbranque's pass caught Wanderers square at the back - gave the scoreline a flattering look.

Nolan himself described the turn of first half events as "a kick in the teeth" while Allardyce pointed the finger at the officials.

"I'm faced with a situation of two major decisions in the last two games which have not given us what we should have had," the manager moaned.

"I've seen Michael's goal that was disallowed on Saturday on several occasions and the linesman had his flag up when he shouldn't. That should have been a win against Tottenham, not a draw.

"And last night, although we missed chances to go 1-0 up, Kevin Nolan was brought down for a penalty and that penalty was not given.

"That means that, after two games which we could have won, we have ended up with just one point and, despite what everybody says, we are still not safe.

"The fact is that we should have gone down to Fulham not having to worry about a result because we should have been on 42 points. Instead we find ourselves in a very tricky position."

Not that tricky. For while they will do well to get anything out of next Monday's Reebok clash with Arsenal and won't fancy going to West Ham on the last day of the season still needing points, they should be comforted by the knowledge that Ipswich need a minor miracle to make up the deficit.

Wanderers might not have needed a sympathetic verdict from Mr Durkin last night if they had been able to press home their early advantage. But that first minute Bobic chance was their only clear cut scoring opportunity.

Youri Djorkaeff went close with a smart free kick, Nicky Southall saw a fierce shot whistle past the post and Nolan looked like he had created a chance until he got cramped for space.

Nevertheless, they looked rock solid at the back with Gudni Bergsson back to his best. Indeed it wasn't until the 37th minute when a misdirected throw by Jussi Jaasskelainen offered Fulham their first sign of encouragement. They were lucky to escape as Hayles contrived to hit the bar with the goal unguarded but five minutes later the Cottagers were on their feet.

Beaten by three good strikes, Jaaskelainen summed up the difference between the sides.

"We played well for the first 35 or 40 minutes - as well as we have played for a long time," he suggested. "But in football you have to take your chances when they come along.

"Now we have to hope that someone does us a favour and that everything is over before next Monday. I think we have done well to be in the position we are in with 40 points. Will it be enough? I just hope we can get more points ourselves or that somebody else can do us a favour.

"It is not over until it is over."