Hodgson retains hope
30 Jan 2008 - 10:27:04
Fulham boss Roy Hodgson remains bullish over his side's survival hopes after picking up his first Premier League point since his appointment in December.
Hodgson had presided over three straight league defeats since taking the helm of the London club before Tuesday's goalless draw with fellow strugglers Bolton Wanderers.
The result left the Cottagers four points adrift of safety in 19th place in the table, but the experienced former Blackburn Rovers and Internazionale manager believes his struggling players can still avoid the drop.
"Of course I think we can survive," he said after the stalemate at the Reebok Stadium.
"If you say to me it's going to be really difficult to make those points up then I can't argue with you and no-one in their right mind would.
"But I also think that this team has far from given up and accepted that they are doomed.
"They can play well and I think you saw from the first half today that if we can get our passing going and play the football we want to play then we can do enough to embarrass our opponents.
"I have hope, I have belief, but of course I wish I had the same number of points as those sides around us. We have to make up that gap."