0 users online

Fulham goal hero Greening believes Cottagers are safe

last updated Thursday 04th February 2010, 2:24 PM
Fulham midfielder Jonathan Greening
Fulham midfielder
Jonathan Greening
 
More
Jonathan Greening
Stories
Goal hero Jonathan Greening today insisted Fulham can steer clear of a Premier League relegation battle, despite the side being decimated by injuries.

Greening found the net for the first time in 21 appearances for Fulham to give a makeshift line-up a 1-0 victory over bottom club Portsmouth at Craven Cottage last night.

He then admitted concern had been growing after a run of five league defeats.

The 31-year-old loan signing from West Brom said: "You start worrying when you lose two games on the spin. When you lose five games in a row, of course it knocks your confidence.

"We're missing some big players to injuries and we're down to the bare bones with a lot of us playing out of position.

"But if you asked the gaffer, he'd say he's got an honest bunch of boys and we'll always give it our all. The games are coming thick and fast but I'd like to think we've got a big enough squad with enough quality and team spirit to cope with it."

A first league win since beating Manchester United in mid-December lifts Roy Hodgson's team to 10th in the table and they will be looking to consolidate that position at Bolton on Saturday, even though Greening, for one, may again be asked to play an unaccustomed role.

He said: "Against Portsmouth I had to fill in on the left wing, where I've not played in five or six years. The gaffer knows the centre of midfield is my favourite position but I'm willing to do a job anywhere."

Greening lurked unmarked on the left side of Portsmouth's penalty area in the 75th minute, when the busy Damien Duff robbed hesitant Nadir Belhadj of the ball before firing a low cross which his grateful team-mate steered home.

Greening leapt to the defence of Italy Under-21 striker Stefano Okaka who drafted in sooner than might have been deemed appropriate because of a dire lack of attacking strength missed what seemed an easy chance.

He said: "Stefano was unlucky with the header. Other than that he did very well.

"He doesn't speak much English and it was obviously difficult for him coming to a new country and only training with us for one day. The more he plays, the better he will become."

Greening, was also full of praise for another debutant, Nicky Shorey, who slotted in well at left-back.















































































Source David Smith at Evening Standard
Since 1998
"It's been updated!"