Hodgson hails splendid victory

Fulham manager Roy Hodgson believes his side's fate will not now be sealed until the last game of the season.

Saturday's 3-2 win at Manchester City extended their recent run to 11 points from eight matches, a record that has given the Cottagers the chance of completing a miraculous escape from relegation.

"I was delighted that we picked ourselves up after what I consider a rather unfortunate first half," Hodgson told Fulham's official website. "I don't think the way we played meant we deserved to be losing by two goals to nil.

"I wasn't following the other results. I knew the half-time scores but I didn't know what was happening in the second half. I couldn't say that to the players at half-time though.

"I've said that quite a few times at half-time so I challenged them to go out and win the second half. It was a splendid victory for us and one that we so badly needed.

"It would have been a great disappointment if our season had ended on Saturday. I always thought that if we could get a goal back we'd be right back in it. Luckily we got it back early enough to give us a chance.

"Now we give ourselves a chance knowing that a victory over Birmingham on Saturday will send us to Portsmouth in the last game going down to the wire. Two or three matches ago I'd have settled for that."