|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
| |
Fulham manager Roy Hodgson |
|
Fulham manager Roy Hodgson is pleased by Fulham's progress during a hectic period but insists it is crucial his players remain grounded.
The Cottagers shot up to 14th in the table with Wednesday night's 2-0 victory over Wigan, ringing up a total of four points from two games.
Everton at Goodison completes a sequence of three matches in eight days and Hodgson is determined for Fulham to put further distance between themselves and a troubled six weeks.
But the former Inter Milan coach admits it is imperative there is no over-reaction to results - good or bad - as he settles his team in for the long haul.
"In three difficult games we've got, at least, four points. I'd like more but you must remain modest," he said.
"When you are where we are, constantly fighting to get into the middle of the table, if every three games brings us four points then we're doing very well.
"What you have to avoid is the period when you get three straight defeats. A few teams around us are suffering now.
"That was Wigan's fourth straight defeat, West Ham have now lost four in a row. That's what you must avoid.
"Sometimes even a point is a good result as it breaks that really bad sequence of losing game after game that you don't want at any cost.
"If you can get two successive wins then you can fly up this table. It's a strange table.
"The managers must keep everyone's feet on the ground and accept that's the case.
"We can't pull cartwheels when we get three points and rise to 12th and at the same time we can't get the shroud out when we drop down to 16th. We must be realistic."
Fulham escaped relegation by the narrowest of margins on the final day of last season and Hodgson admits it could be another nail-biting finish this term.
"Last season everything changed between games 35, 36, 37, 38. To some extent I've still got my sights on those games this season," he said.
"Hopefully we'll be nowhere near the relegation zone when that comes around but if we are then I hope we're playing with the same effort, consistency and determination we showed against Wigan."