Fulham manager Jean Tigana has urged his players
to dig-in and prove their character after defeat to London rivals Spurs
on Sunday left The Cottagers just three points clear of the relegation zone.
The Frenchman has targeted three more wins from Fulham's final seven games
of the campaign to ensure their Barclaycard Premiership survival, but he
insists it is now down to the players to show they have what it takes as
they fight to preserve their top-flight status.
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Fulham
boss Jean Tigana believes players must prove their character
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Sunday's 2-0 defeat to Spurs was the West Londoners' sixth straight league
loss and having won just once in their last ten Premiership games, The
Cottagers are in desperate need of a good result to turn their dismal
run around.
Tigana said afterwards: "We have given everything to our players,
now it is time for them to give something back. I am looking for a reaction
from them in our next game.
"I want us to win three more matches. I think we need six or seven
more points - then it will be possible to stay at the top level."
Although Tigana has spent £35million on players since achieving
promotion to the Premiership last May, he still believes he needs to strengthen
his squad in order to cope with the demands of life in the top flight.
He is unlikely to be making any new signings before Thursday's transfer
deadline but feels additions will be necessary if his team are to challenge
for a place in Europe next season - an important factor in the development
of the club if they are to attract the world's best players to Craven
Cottage.
"I have tried to sign world class players, but the top players want
to play in the European Cup," Tigana admitted.
"My priority is to stay in the top level, then I can try to add
to the squad in the summer. Our main problem at the moment is that the
strikers are not so confident - but this is our first year at the top
level.
"When you've lost six games in a row in the league it is difficult.
We need to keep the confidence and to try to win our next game, at Southampton
on Saturday."
A win against the Saints at St. Mary's would move Fulham above Strachan's
side in the table and put the South coast club back in danger of relegation
themselves. With every team from Middlesbrough, in tenth position, still
possible relegation candidates, there is still plenty to play for in the
bottom half of the table as the season nears its potentially dramatic climax.