Source: PA
Hodgson shelves thoughts of Europe
Fulham manager Roy Hodgson is happy to put a disastrous January behind him - a month which he believes has cost his side the chance to fight for a place in Europe next year.
Last season Hodgson brought European football to Craven Cottage after he guided his side to an unlikely seventh-place finish.
The Cottagers made a slow start to this season before going on a good run which culminated in a 3-0 victory over Barclays Premier League champions Manchester United the week before Christmas.
That shock win raised expectations that Hodgson's men could make Europe again this year, but a recent run of five straight defeats was only halted by Wednesday's 1-0 win over rock bottom Portsmouth at Craven Cottage.
Hodgson's efforts have been blighted by a series of long-term injuries to key players like Andy Johnson, Clint Dempsey and Paul Konchesky and the former Inter Milan manager is hoping for an improvement in form and luck in February.
"I don't think we're looking at Europe this year. I think we dropped too many points in January," said the 62-year-old. "The teams that are going to be European this year, which is only the top six, they're already 10-12 points ahead of us. Our chance of getting into Europe will be to win a cup competition."
