Fulham - Dangerous Times Ahead?

Quite a season we`ve had to date - far different than the previous two relegation-threatened ones.

Here we sit on forty points with seven matches to play, while spending the majority of the season in the top half of the table - circumstances certainly unexpected by most 'experts` and even by many Fulham fans, including myself.

Despite our improvement and overall success, we still face puzzling and
sometimes infuriating dips in form. We began the season with a disappointing loss to newly promoted Hull, only to defeat Arsenal the very next week. We preceded our first away win versus Bolton and our monumental defeat of Manchester United by dropping consecutive home matches against Hull and Blackburn.

I put no stock in our weekend performance against Liverpool. Simply put, we were overmatched. Liverpool could best be described as tenacious in attack; so much so that we found it hard to catch our breath, much less mount an effective counter attack. Dropping points in stoppage time is always a disappointment, but in point of fact, we deserved nothing from the game.

We now sit in 9th position in relative safety from relegation, but with much work still to do to solidify our position in the top half of the table. Complacency has to be a concern. After all, many of our players have only known relegation battles in their time at Fulham. This relatively comfortable position is a new experience for many. How will they respond?

Man City and Spurs both sit two points behind us. Bolton sits three behind. We have very little room for error. I think full points from Middlesbrough and Stoke are required. Should that not occur, I think we`re in real danger of falling out of the top ten.

How disappointing it would be to capitulate so late in the season.

Will we maintain our top ten position?

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