Hugo Rodallega scored the winner to lift Fulham to a 2-1 victory over Newcastle in an end-to-end English Premier League game at Craven Cottage.
Steve Sidwell had given the lead for the home side just before 20 minutes, before another stunning strike from Hatem Ben Arfa made it 1-1.
However, Rodallega popped up just past the hour to ensure Martin Jol's team went away with all three points.
"It was massive," Sidwell told Sky Sports. "In the table before the game there was a bit of a gap between us and the teams above so it was important for us to get the three points and keep in touch.
"We came out of the traps first half and got the goal. The second half they really pushed us and got the equaliser but Hugo popped up with a header and we hung in there."
Fulham started better, and deservedly opened the scoring in the 19th minute. Damien Duff played the ball through to Sidwell inside the box, with the former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder then seeing his strike take a wicked deflection of Newcastle defender Mike Williamson to loop above Tim Krul into the back of the net - Fulham's first goal in 317 minutes of play.
"It was definitely going on target so if they don't give it to me, I am after that dubious goals panel," Sidwell added with a smile.
Dimitar Berbatov then had a few of chances to increase Fulham's lead, but a couple of saves from Krul and some decent defending kept the scoreline at 1-0.
Fabricio Coloccini would have thought he had scored the equalizer just past the half hour, but Sascha Riether made a brilliant goalline clearance to keep the Newcastle defender's header from crossing the line.
Nine minutes after halftime, however, Newcastle drew level. Ben Arfa picked up the ball from a seemingly harmless position on the right, and then unleashed a powerful, dipping strike out of the blue to make it 1-1.
"We couldn't finish them off and then they scored that goal with Ben Arfa -- he is a quality player and he scored," Fulham manager Martin Jol said.
"But to be fair we have got three or four opportunities and, Berbatov had maybe three of them, to score the 2-1 before that.
Sidwell nearly got his second, but Krul was alert and snuffed out the chance after Berbatov had put through his teammate. However, in the 63rd minute, Rodallega rose highest to head home a brilliant Damien Duff freekick.
Coloccini, at the other end, just wasn't having the luck, as he saw his brilliant strike smash off the crossbar and out, with Schwarzer beaten all ends up, leaving Newcastle disappointed yet again, and Fulham relieved.
"It's a really soft second goal -- a soft freekick, soft defending on the freekick and you can't do that at this level because we had the game by the scruff of the neck at this point," Pardew said.
"We played some of our best attacking football of the season, but we've still come away with nothing. Performances don't get you points.
"In the second half we were terrific other than those two or three moments. We've got no-one to blame but ourselves."
