Forward Momentum

Clint Dempsey is hoping to take full advantage of the First Team opportunity handed to him last weekend as Fulham prepare to take on Liverpool at Anfield. The American midfielder was handed his first start against Spurs since the away match against West Brom in early October.

Recently Dempsey had impressed as a substitute, scoring Fulham’s equaliser against Portsmouth and playing a telling pass to Andy Johnson in home match against Newcastle, which lead to Fulham’s penalty.

Roy Hodgson rewarded those cameo performances with a start against in-form Tottenham and Dempsey was certainly pleased to be back in the starting line-up.

“It’s good to be playing but I’m the type of person who wants to be doing more than just playing – I want to be scoring goals, getting assists and contributing to help the team win,” he told fulhamfc.com. “Hopefully with a few more chances I’ll be able to do more of those things.

“It’s been a slow start to the season for me but as it’s gone on I feel as though I’ve been able to be part of things more. I was able to score against Portsmouth; I came on against Newcastle and then played a role for the team against Tottenham.

“We’re in tenth place right now which is different to what we’ve been used to in the two years that I’ve been here. Things are starting to pick up for me so I’ve got to do the best I can to make use of the opportunity.”

A key feature behind Fulham’s success so far this season has been the standards of organisation instilled by Roy Hodgson. Every player knows, first and foremost, what is required of them yet there has also been no sacrifice in terms of allowing attacking flair to shine through.

“I’m still playing the way that I want,” Dempsey explained. “I just like being involved in the attack; I think I can play in a number of positions. I understand my role in the team when I go into certain positions and right now that position is an outside midfield role. That allows me to get forward, get in the attack, take players on and get crosses into the box.

“Everybody works hard defensively; it’s not just relying in the back four to do a job. Our midfielders and our forwards are playing a role in being more compact as a team and more difficult to break down.

“It’s always good to play well and win games, so for us to get back-to-back wins is good. It was important as far as points are concerned because the table is so tight. Any time we can give ourselves a little distance between the other teams is important. Last season it came down to the last game so it’s good to be in the top ten and if we get a few more results, it will be a good situation to be in. I think in return you’ll also see a more confident side and you’ll see us playing better football which will be more fun for the fans.

“I thought we did a good job in the last game against Tottenham. We’ve played well at home a lot of times this season – even when we were a man down against West Ham. We’re a tough team to beat at home and hopefully we can take some of that form to away matches.

“To survive in this league you have to have good form but to achieve something and be in the top ten, you need to be able to get results away.”

With a trip to Anfield next on the horizon, Dempsey is hoping the Whites can maintain their form against the current joint-leaders.

“Any time you play any team it’s tough,” he said. “We’re looking to play well and the goal has to be to get at least get a point. It would be great to get a win but we’re hoping we can get something out of the game – especially being in the form that we’re in at the moment. You don’t want to stop getting the points because once you lose a game it’s like taking a step backwards. Coming off the result we had against Tottenham, the players will have the belief that something can be done.”