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There
was only one Simon Morgan |
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Simon Morgan today thanked manager Jean Tigana
for letting him be part of the club's championship-winning team and backed
them to break the First Division points record.
The 34-year-old made his first appearance of the campaign last night as
a substitute in the 2-0 win against Wolves after being sidelined with injuries
to both knees since the end of last season.
The victory means Fulham can finish the
season with a point more than the 105 Sunderland achieved to set the First
Division record in 1999 if they win their remaining two fixtures against
Wimbledon and Grimsby.
But Morgan was the star act last night
and was cheered every time he touched the ball after receiving a standing
ovation when he came on 14 minutes from the end.
His throw-ins even received roars of approval
and there was a rousing send-off too for the longest-serving member of
Fulham's playing staff at the final whistle.
Morgan proved how popular he is with the
Craven Cottage crowd after staying loyal to the club for more than 10
years and playing for them in the bottom three divisions.
But he is unlikely to be around next season
when they are playing in the Premiership as his contract runs out in the
summer and Sean Davis is emerging as a top quality young player in the
defensive midfield position Morgan covets.
Morgan said: 'It was absolutely fantastic
for me to get on and to be able to say I have been part of three promotion-winning
teams.
'This team will go down in Fulham history
and being part of it is something to tell the grandchildren, that is for
sure.
'But that is down to the gaffer and it
was a brilliant gesture for him to let me play after being injured all
year.
'The way they have been playing, they have
been fantastic all season. Everyone who has pulled the white shirt on
has been brilliant and it has been easy to watch. It gave me more incentive
to get fit.
'I am part of the furniture here, the supporters
are great and they have always been good with me.
'I can pass that mantle on to Davis now
and I hope they treat him as well as they have treated me. He is the boy
wonder at the moment and, hopefully, he will have as good a career here
as I have.'
Morgan, however, was still wary of the
job he had to do when he was brought on as a right-back for Wayne Collins.
He added: 'I was aware of the reception
I was going to get but I was just focused because I could not let these
boys down.
'They have been so good all season and
have a very proud defensive record. They wanted to keep a clean sheet.
'They also want to beat the record and
we have to win our last two games to do it. It will be difficult but they
are going to go for it.
'The drive and belief they have in themselves
is phenomenal and they are determined to get the record.'
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