Fulham's season went to the wire on Sunday afternoon and after emerging victorious from a three-way relegation battle, Manager Roy Hodgson offered his commiserations to his counterparts at Reading and Birmingham after a gruelling afternoon for all three clubs.
"It was tough – especially as we knew that Reading were winning at Derby. We also knew that Birmingham were leading at half-time so we knew it was going to be very tough. In the first half I thought we played reasonably well but Portsmouth were defending very well and the chances were few and far between at both ends.
"I knew it was going to take a lot to win the game but luckily Danny Murphy with a bullet header came to our rescue. We end up staying up at a cost to two other teams who must be disappointed and my thoughts are with them in a way.
"For long periods during the game I was contemplating that the post match interview would be discussing our future in the Championship. Of course I’m the lucky one and they’re the unlucky ones. My thoughts go out to Alex McLeish and Steve Coppell."
Hodgson admits that the reality of the situation at the beginning of April was bleak, but focus, hard work and belief throughout the Club has paid dividends and the Manger is clearly delighted for everyone associated with Fulham.
"I only allowed myself to think about the next game and trying to get a performance. I’m realistic and I’ve been in the game a long time – you don’t dream, you face reality. I think our reality four or five games ago was of course that we’d be facing life in the Championship.
"Luckily we didn’t give up and the boys kept the faith. I think we’ve done it by playing football and getting results we deserve rather than results that we’ve stolen or sneaked.
"I’d like to think it’s because the players have worked so hard. We’ve been very consistent in the work we’ve done; improve our defending and our attacking. We’ve had a stable team which has reacted very well to the work we’ve done on the training field. In the last couple of months we’ve become a better team.
"In the defeats to Sunderland and Liverpool I didn’t think we’d played particularly badly, we just lost those games. I’d like to think it’s built up over time and I’d like to think the players have got a great reward for the work they’ve put in and the coaching staff a reward for their hard work. My two assistants, Mike Kelly and Ray Lewington, have been outstanding in helping me to organise the team.
"II’m so pleased for the Club. I’m so pleased for Mohamed Al Fayed. The fans have been fantastic. Last week when we beat Birmingham you’d of thought we were at Anfield."
Hodgson is already tuning his attention towards next season and revealed that his hard work will continue over the summer months to ensure the Club's long term future in the top flight.
"Everyone at the Club deserves this success and we can enjoy it for a couple of days then get our feet back on the ground and make certain next season we’ve got a stronger platform and that we don’t find ourselves from the offset fighting to get out of the bottom three.
"We need a better platform and we’ve given ourselves a chance to build that platform but a lot of hard work’s going to have to be done in the summer to make sure the platform is built.”
