Roy Hodgson insists he is more than satisfied with his Fulham side’s performances to date as the Cottagers prepare to embark on a brutal Christmas programme.
After Thursday night’s make-or-break Europa League clash at Basel, the Londoners face Manchester United, Tottenham and Chelsea in successive fixtures over the festive period.
And with Fulham currently sat in ninth spot in the Premier League, Hodgson reckons his side are in good shape ahead of their stern tests.
He said: “We have 23 points from our first 16 games and at this stage of the season that is a very good return.
“It is even more impressive when you consider how many games we have played in Europe.
“Nine games in the Europa League has taken a lot out of the players and I think it says a lot about the squad we have here that we are still in there.
“We are still in the top half of the table and at this stage of the campaign I am very pleased.”
Fulham picked up another useful point on the road, and extended their unbeaten run to ten league games at the weekend, Bobby Zamora on target as the Cottagers earned a 1-1 draw at Burnley.
And Hodgson felt his side could easily have returned to the capital with a maximum haul.
He added: “We had a couple of great chances early on and in the first half especially we played very, very well.
“When we took the lead I thought that might have been enough but Burnley are very strong at home and the crowd really get on top of the ref.
“They threw everything forward and a few decisions went their way.
“So although I am happy with a point there were certainly tinges of regret we did not get all three.”