Fulham-Sunderland Preview

Feb 26, 2010 - 6:05 PM MICK ROBERTS STATS European Football Writer=

LONDON (SE) - Fulham manager Roy Hodgson had told his players to forget about European glory and concentrate on the less romantic task of beating sliding Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Sunday.

Hodgson's victorious squad came home from knocking holders Shakhtar Donetsk out of the Europa League on Friday to prepare for another arduous journey to England's north east.

Fulham now meet Italian giants Juventus in the quarter-finals of the competition but Hodgson expects the Premier League to take priority.

Shrewd Hodgson said: "To beat the holders was one of my best nights in Europe and the players have every right to be proud of what they have done.

"We have two matches coming up now with Juventus and in some cases they will be the biggest matches of their careers.

"But in this game there is always a surprise round the corner if you are not prepared and going up to Sunderland will be a big change from what we have experienced.

"Sunderland are suddenly fighting for their lives and they will be desperate to catch us with our heads still in the clouds. But there is no way we will not be properly prepared."

Bad news for Fulham was the loss of leading scorer and revitalised England candidate Bobby Zamora to an Achilles injury while abroad.

Experienced former Liverpool star Danny Murphy was sent off against Shakhtar Donetsk but is banned only from European competition, making him available for Sunderland.

Sunderland manager Steve Bruce has presided over a depressing run of 13 Premier League matches without a win and they go into the match with Fulham only three points above the drop zone.

Bruce is targeting the home matches against Fulham and fellow strugglers Bolton on Tuesday as must-win matches.

Bruce said: "The challenge is to win the next two home matches and re-ignite our whole season.

"I told the players that we have been good at home. Only Chelsea and Villa have beaten us here and we have defeated Liverpool and Arsenal.

"If we can get maximum points from these two games, as I feel we should, we are looking up the table again, and not down.

"The bad run might have sapped confidence on the pitch and some optimism off it, but we have to remind ourselves that we are capable of winning both games."

Bruce should have the combative qualities of midfield player Lee Cattermole available after injury and suspension.

Cattermole said: "I think we have got to win seven of our 12 remaining games and I don't see why this cannot happen.

"After Fulham and Bolton we also have Manchester City and Birmingham at home and I think we can beat them as well.

"We have to make them count, starting this weekend against Fulham and once we get that first win it is sure to be a big relief to everyone at Sunderland."