While aware of the advantage his team currently holds, Scott Parker is taking nothing for granted on Thursday.
Fulham currently enjoy a two-goal lead at the midway stage of our Play-Off Semi-Final, but our Head Coach knows there is no room for complacency in the Second Leg.
“We need to take the positives from the other night and how we performed as a team,” Parker stated. “The players are in a good place, confidence is very high at the moment coming off a very good run of games. “Momentum is good, but I’m very conscious that this tie is at half-time. Okay, we’ve put ourselves in a fantastic position, 2-0 up and we played very, very well, but in saying that we’re up against a wounded animal in Cardiff, and we’ve got a game now which is going to bring a different challenge.
“As always, every game is about us and what we do. There’s challenges which we may face, but ultimately it’s about how we put our stamp on the game and bring our qualities to the football match, which we try to always do.
“We want to nullify the problems that Cardiff will cause us, and try and get a real control and put our stamp on the game, and try and get a positive result.
“That’s our aim and what we’re planning to do. But we also understand what a tough game it will be, and we need to respect that.”
It was put to Parker that no side has ever overturned a two goal deficit to reach the Championship Play-Off Final, and so does his think his team have one foot at Wembley already?
“I wouldn’t say that,” he replied. “We understand that this is only half done here. We’ve still got another massive 90 minutes.
I don’t know how Cardiff see it but certainly this game is not over. They realise that and we realise that.
“We need to go about it in a real positive, professional way, with a mentality about us, because that’s what got us the result last time.
“If we do that then I have no doubt that we’re in a good position and primed to do very well. Momentum’s with us, confidence is here, I sense a real buzz around the place coming off the back of a real positive result against Cardiff.
“The players over the last couple of days have had a real buzz about them, but we’ve had that the last few weeks. You saw that the other night in the way we performed.
“But there’s a line between confidence and arrogance and sloppiness, and we have to be the right side of that. We have to be very professional tomorrow night to try and get this job done.”
