Hugo Rodallega was delighted to cap Fulham’s crucial comeback at Birmingham with the winner yesterday, but insists that the first three points of the season are only the start on the road to recovery.
The Colombian striker’s clever finish from close range gave the Whites their first league victory in some six months and lifted Kit Symons’ men off the foot of the Championship table and Rodallega was savouring that long-missed winning feeling after the final whistle.
It was very important. Our first three points is very important for the group. Everyone is thinking positively now and this is the start for us. The first win of the season is very important for our confidence and everyone is happy after the game.
The feeling is perfect inside of the group and that’s what we need. That’s what we need, to keep this feeling, and we’ll take this feeling into the next game.
Rodallega’s whole-hearted display typified Fulham’s desire to get back into a game that appeared beyond them once David Cotterill curled Birmigham into a first-half lead, which the Blues threatened to extend. The striker’s hunger was typified by the manner in which decisively won the battle for the loose ball with goalkeeper Darren Rudolph prior to finishing so impressively from an acute angle.
I’m so happy to get the winning goal, it’s very important for me to keep scoring. I am a striker and I need to score goals. I’m always fighting to score and this goal was a very important one. There were some other chances when the goal didn’t happen, it’s not great but it happens in football.
It’s important to keep going and eventually the goal came my way. I’m very happy for myself, for the group, for my family and for the fans.
