Source: Liverpool_Echo
Liverpool FC boss Roy Hodgson finally feels at home
Roy Hodgson 300[LNB]IT'S only a short trip from the Reebok back to Liverpool but you can bet Roy Hodgson savoured every minute of it last night.[LNB]Finally, there was a journey home for him to savour.[LNB]Just to underline how long it had been since the manager celebrated three points on his travels, he couldn't even remember when he last triumphed.[LNB]'I did mention to Paul Konchesky after the game that winning away is not something we've been too blessed with over the last few years,' he said.[LNB] 'The last one might have been at Bolton. I think I might adopt the Reebok as my favourite ground.'[LNB]In fact Hodgson's Fulham only grabbed a point at Bolton back in February and you have to go back to the opening day of last season - when the Cottagers won 1-0 at Portsmouth - to find his last bout of away day joy.[LNB]On 22 occasions he had tried and failed before finally breaking that barren run in dramatic circumstances yesterday.[LNB]Fans will forgive Hodgson for his bout of amnesia because it was the only thing he got wrong all afternoon.[LNB]The boss has been derided for being too negative since he arrived at Anfield but yesterday he was bold.[LNB]He could have stuck with what he had when Joe Cole limped off midway through the second half but decided to twist, ignoring the likes of Milan Jovanovic and Christian Poulsen and introducing striker David Ngog instead.[LNB]It paid off when the Frenchman provided the kind of energy and enthusiasm in the final third that Liverpool had been sadly lacking.[LNB]It's been some fortnight for the manager who looked down and out following the Reds' miserable showing in the Merseyside derby.[LNB]Since that desperate afternoon at Goodison he has lifted himself off the canvas. Victory over Blackburn at Anfield provided a much needed boost to morale and this three points ensured momentum is maintained.[LNB]For the first time this season the Reds are looking up rather than down. Having climbed to the dizzy heights of 12th, it won't have escaped Hodgson's gaze that fifth placed Tottenham are only three points better off.[LNB]The revival has certainly been timely with new owner John W Henry flying in for a host of meetings this week.[LNB]Hodgson can at least talk about the club's future confident in the knowledge he will be a part of it.[LNB]If this victory ensured Hodgson got a monkey off his back the same can be said of his players.[LNB]Liverpool's last away league win came in a meaningless game at relegated Burnley back in April and before that you have to go way back to the last-gasp victory at Villa Park last December.
