Fulham manager Roy Hodgson admits that his side must win at least two of their remaining three games if they are to avoid Premier League relegation.
Hodgson saw his side defeated 2-0 by Liverpool at Craven Cottage on Saturday as goals from Jermaine Pennant and Peter Crouch left the Cottagers sitting second bottom of the top-flight and five points from safety.
Fulham travel to Manchester City next Saturday before welcoming fellow strugglers Birmingham to West London on 3rd May and they then end their season away to Portsmouth.
And while Hodgson believes his players gave a good account of themselves against Liverpool, he is demanding his side start winning.
“We have certainly got to win two of them,” Hodgson told Sky Sports News when asked if Fulham’s final three games are now must-wins. “If we win all three then we have got a chance.
“The players gave a good account of themselves. It was the business end of the pitch that cost us.
“From box-to-box we played and matched them very well, but we were playing against a strong side. We knew that we needed a little bit of luck.
“Liverpool will go home knowing they have given a very professional performance and we will go home thinking that with a bit of luck we could have got something out of this game.
“All I can say is that we gave a good account of ourselves. I don’t think we were out-played at any stage.
“I can only hope that the players realise they did not give a bad performance and that they pick themselves up and repeat that performance to give ourselves a chance of staying in the division.”
Meanwhile, Hodgson insists he was not expecting an easy game as Liverpool – who tackle Chelsea in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-finals on Tuesday – featured eight changes to their lasting outing against Blackburn last weekend.
“Not really,” added Hodgson, when asked if he saw Liverpool’s first XI as a weakened side.
“Liverpool are one of the top four teams and when you are at the bottom it is not easy to beat one of the top four.”
