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Hodgson wary Fulham running out of time

03/05/2008

Fulham manager Roy Hodgson is wary that his side are running out of chances to save themselves with two games left in the Premier League.

The Cottagers face a vital clash with Birmingham City today and the result will have a huge impact on the relegation battle.

Both sides are currently in the bottom three; Fulham are on 30 points, Birmingham 32, while Bolton and Reading are both on 33.

Hodgson says it is crucial that his team take all three points at Craven Cottage otherwise they will be relying on results elsewhere to give them a chance of survival.

"A draw for them might well be a satisfactory result, as they [Birmingham City] can take the draw and still give themselves a good chance in the final game as they have a good goal difference," said Hodgson.

"Whereas for us, we know that a draw will reduce our chances to the absolute minimum whereby we will be looking at all kinds of strange circumstances to give us a chance."

Hodgson is worried that fate may play a cruel hand during his side's final two games and has told his players there will be no room for error during their battle with the Blues.

He said: "When the only result that is of any interest to us is a victory then you're fearful that you're going to concede to a counter attack goal when you're in the ascendancy or something extraordinary is going to happen which might go against you."

Fulham have only taken seven points from their last six matches and with an away game against Portsmouth next week Hodgson knows the match against the Blues could decide their Premier League survival.