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Roy of the Fulham dreams of Cup glory

last updated Sunday 14th February 2010, 7:16 PM
Fulham manager Roy Hodgson
Fulham manager Roy Hodgson
     
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Fulham manager Roy Hodgson views the FA Cup as the next step in the club's progression after his side defeated Notts County to reach the quarter-finals.

"It would mean a lot to us," Hodgson said. "It would be another major step forward with the progression at the club. We'll be highly motivated and nervous about the quarter-final because we badly want a good result.

"There have been fewer winners of the FA Cup since the inauguration of the Premier League. It's wrong to compare the mythical Fulham teams of the 60s and 70s or even the showbiz teams when Rodney Marsh, George Best and Bobby Moore were playing in the same team.

"We have to be more journeyman-like in our approach because staying in the league is so important. It's not a case of Rodney Marsh doing a few tricks or George Best beating a man and having a rest for five minutes. That's not possible. Success is probably a continued presence in the Premier League, if we could go one step further that would be fantastic."

Fulham have avoided Chelsea in the next round and will be helped by Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool having already been knocked out. "For the teams left, they won't regret three of the traditional top four in the country not being there," Hodgson added. "We think we have as good chance as the others. It's nice to have the lottery ticket because you cannot win the lottery without one.

"It was a real potential banana skin and I'm just happy we didn't slip up on it," Hodgson said. "I wasn't wrong to suggest they would give us a good game. It worked perfectly because we saw the game through and were able to rest players for the last 20 minutes with a game on Thursday and Sunday coming up. It could have been less goals but it is nice to get four goals and be in the hat."

Notts County caretaker boss Dave Kevan was pleased with his side's performance following a traumatic week when the club was sold for £1 and Sven-Goran Eriksson resigned from his role as director of football.

Kevan is still positive about earning promotion from League Two. "We're very sorry to see Sven and Tord (Grip) leave, it was a privilege to work with them," Kevan said. "But there is a lot of football to be played. The aim is to get out of League Two and we can still do it. Sven called me and said we could beat them. Hopefully I'll speak to him on the way home."

He added: "The players were fantastic and worked tremendously hard. We created some good chances in both halves so I"m proud how they played. They can take credit for that. They have to take that performance and transmit it into League Two football. We felt the scoreline flattered Fulham, it was a bit harsh on us. They were more clinical, as you'd expect."







































































Source Soccernet
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