THE confirmation of a season's success must wait a while longer. Saturday, Sunday or maybe even beyond this coming weekend. But be absolutely certain, it will soon arrive.
After a 37th point of the season was found at Craven Cottage even pessimists armed with calculators struggle to make a case for Hull City returning to the Championship.
The Tigers appear destined not to bound over the finishing line, taking just 14 points from 16 games in 2014, yet there remains a certain assurance that this season will end well. A purpose that has flickered but never faded.
And here it was again. Despite a fractured, timid performance bringing about a 2-0 deficit to a Fulham side trying to reel a rival back into the relegation mix, City found something that will keep them in the Premier League.
Spirit and belief is no guarantee to glory but it never goes amiss. Certainly not at this time of the year.
"The reason we're 13th is that we don't give up," said manager Steve Bruce, itching to pop the champagne. "We have a crack at it and we keep on going."
The first crack of that whip came belatedly in the 75th minute and continued until the very last kick.
Waking from a slumber that had seen them two goals in arrears through the excellent finishes of Ashkan Dejagah and Fernando Amorebieta, City refused to look over anxious shoulders with a stirring late response bringing Fulham to their knees.
Nikica Jelavic's close-range header, cashing in on a timely slice of fortune, was followed up by shots against the woodwork from Sone Aluko and Ahmed Elmohamady.
And then Shane Long popped up three minutes from time with the goal that effectively delivers the club's fourth season in the top flight.
The contrasts on the terraces told the story. While Fulham fans sat with heads in hands, novelty card clackers tossed to the floor, close to 2,000 supporters in the Putney End of Craven Cottage celebrated safe in the knowledge the Premier League odyssey has another chapter coming. One set of fans contemplated throwing themselves in the Thames as the others danced along its banks.
Fulham cannot catch the Tigers now. Neither can Cardiff. Only miracles from Sunderland or Norwich, five points adrift and with hugely inferior goal differences, could possibly rain on City's survival parade before the FA Cup final.
Two men ineligible for that showpiece fixture were the eventual difference between the Tigers fretting and rejoicing on Saturday evening.
Scoring their fourth Premier League goals since their January moves, Jelavic and Long repaid a hefty instalment in the £14m that brought them to the KC Stadium.
Their 13 starts together have now returned eight goals. A Fulham side that saw fit to spend £11m on Greece international Konstantinos Mitroglou, who is yet to open his account, ache for such a vital contribution.
For long periods, though, the Cottagers appeared capable of breathing fresh life into their survival bid.
A City side set up to frustrate in a 3-5-2 shape held their hosts at bay with ease for the opening period.
Chances were at a premium and only Long, brought down by the panicking Amorebieta when clear on goal, brought the only talking point of the first half when his appeals for a penalty, and likely sending off, were waved away.
There was little sign of the drama that laid in wait as the Tigers held parity without breaking sweat, but Fulham were not short of spirit themselves. Or class. Both came from half-time substitute Dejegah when he opened the scoring 10 minutes after his introduction.
Ignoring the overlapping run that took away his defenders on the City left, a cut inside opened play up for a shot through bodies and curling past the helpless Steve Harper.
Fulham felt it was suddenly their big day and the feeling was entrenched three minutes later. Kieran Richardson's cross from the left was attacked by Amorebieta and a downward header into the bottom corner was again too good for Harper.
A year on from faltering at Barnsley in the Championship promotion race, it again seemed as though City were inviting threats to their top-flight ambitions. A position of cautious control had become one of fluster and worry. There and then the gap between them and the bottom three was four points.
Bruce made his own attacking substitutions by turning to the impressive Aluko, and with a quarter of an hour to play came a reaction that confirmed City belong in the Premier League.
Jelavic's lifeline owed much to luck when Sascha Riether's botched clearance looped over David Stockdale and onto the bar, allowing for an easy header in, but from then on in it was relentless.
Aluko struck a wicked shot against Stockdale's crossbar to signal the start of the onslaught, and once Harper's bravery denied Dejagah again on a rapid Fulham counter, Elmohamady struck the woodwork again with a low shot against a post.
Panic was on the streets of West London and Fulham could hold on no longer. Aluko's cross from the left flank was perfect to miss out all defenders and tee up Long to score a simple but deadly header at the back post. The comeback was complete.
And so was City's journey towards safety. Anything from Aston Villa this weekend will render the final week of the season academic and allow all thoughts to turn to Arsenal and the FA Cup.
Just as like when the Premier League kicked off at Chelsea in August, few will give the Tigers a prayer at Wembley. If they can muster the spirit shown at Fulham, however, a return to the capital in three weeks could yet bring further celebrations.
