Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Travel sickness takes its toll on Hodgson hard

Roy Hodgson has admitted he is growing concerned about Fulham's form on the road ahead of tonight's trip to Sunderland.

Fulham have failed to record a single win in 10 Premier League games away from Craven Cottage this season - with a goal tally of just three, the worst in all four top divisions.

Had it not been for a run of nine League games without defeat that ended at West Ham last week, Fulham's travel sickness would have left them hovering around the relegation zone rather than occupying 10th place in the table.

A tight defence earned commendable draws at Liverpool, Aston Villa, Stoke City and Tottenham during those nine matches, but they have not been enough to keep Hodgson happy.

He said: "We are concerned. We need to start ensuring points away from home. During our good run we picked up points away, but we weren't getting wins. Three draws only equate to one win. We are aware of that."

Fulham did, indeed, play poorly in their FA Cup victory at Kettering on Saturday. But four goals, including only a second in 20 starts for summer signing Bobby Zamora and a second in 23 starts for Simon Davies, offer glimmers of encouragement going to the Stadium of Light.

Skipper Danny Murphy said: "Our away form has not been good. So it was nice that Simon and Bobby got on the scoresheet for the first time in a while. That will do their confidence the world of good."

Murphy, rested from the starting line-up at Kettering, will resume his midfield role alongside Dickson Etuhu, signed from Sunderland last summer.