National
Fulham’s great escape
Portsmouth 0 Fulham 1
FULHAM boss Roy Hodgson revealed
he would probably celebrate
by watching Match of the
Day on television rather than go
to a party after Danny Murphy's
goal ensured an amazing escape
from relegation.
Hodgson stood still on the
touchline as Murphy's decisive
header flew in and appeared to
keep calm all the way through to
the final whistle which marked
Fulham's fourth win in the last
five games and survival on goal
difference.
The 60-year-old said: It's not
really an occasion for celebration
although I'm delighted for
everybody at the club.
You used to have a glass of
wine and smoke a cigar - before
my wife stopped me smoking,
that is - but that was also sometimes
the case when you had lost
as well.
I think there might be a party
planned but I think I might just
stay in and watch Match of the
Day.
We are delighted with what
we've done in the last few weeks
even though we left it late and
left ourselves a mountain to
climb.
But I am always aware that
when we win somebody else has
lost and I feel genuine sympathy
for lads like Alex McLeish and
Steve Coppell who have gone
down with their clubs despite
both also winning today.
Some people will say we've
been lucky but I just felt there
might be something going for us
if we needed it enough.
We were always aware that
only a win would suffice and I
felt if we could stay in the game
and not go behind to a very
strong Portsmouth team there
might be something for us in the
last 15 to 20 minutes.
Danny's header proved that
correct and although I might
have looked calm after he scored
I can tell you that was not the
case.
I thought the last few minutes
lasted half an hour and
wouldn't want to go through
that too many times.''
Hodgson joked: If you think
I looked calm then I can only
think it was the valium. I wanted
the referee to blow the final
whistle as soon as Danny had
scored.
Do we deserve to stay up? I
think we do."
Hodgson's record at Fulham
since replacing Lawrie Sanchez
in December is six wins, five
draws and nine defeats but the
former manager of Inter Milan,
Blackburn, Finland and Switzerland
said: If you want to call it
my finest achievement I won't
argue with that."
8:56am Monday 12th May 2008
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