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Scott Parker: 'Siege mentality will help Fulham avoid the drop'

Fulham were aggrieved that they had just 36 hours' notice of their game against Tottenham.

Scott Parker believes the "siege mentality" Fulham harnessed for the rearranged Tottenham game can help in their battle to avoid Premier League relegation.

After a disappointing start to the season when they recorded just one point from their opening six matches, the Cottagers are unbeaten in their last five league games.

Parker's men were only given 36 hours' notice that their game against Spurs on Wednesday would go ahead, but they managed to come from behind to secure a point.

And the Fulham boss hopes to use the incident as fuel ahead of a week in which west London rivals Chelsea and current leaders Manchester United visit Craven Cottage.

"It was game on, the players probably didn't have an understanding of how I felt and they didn't need to know that," Parker said.

"Once we got told the game's on, it was 'let's go, let's do what we've got to do'. The players were just coming back in, there was medical staff, physical guys, conversations to start.

"We needed to put everything in place for these players to make sure they perform at a level or some level that we need them to. And of course probably a little bit of a siege mentality – us v them – and use that to our advantage.

"I felt all round that did come out and that was our mindset. It's probably been our mindset for a lot of this year, that's probably how it's going to be for us."

After conceding 10 goals in their opening three league games of the season, and only recording their first clean sheet in November, Fulham have allowed just three goals in their last five matches.

And Parker is happy his side are proving difficult to beat as they battle for survival.

The 40-year-old said: "It's a work in progress. Something I feel is a trait you need in top teams (is) a real mentality and understanding that you're not an easy walkover.

"When teams or people see you as that, it's time you stand up even more. You show those people.

"They're the moments you grow even more and show the fire in your belly, to prove people wrong. That'll be us this year."

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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool119112161528
2Manchester CityMan City117222213923
3Chelsea115422113819
4Arsenal115421812619
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest115421510519
6Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton115421915419
7Fulham115331613318
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
9Aston Villa115331717018
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1151523131016
11Brentford115152222016
12Bournemouth114341515015
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd114341212015
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Leicester CityLeicester112451421-710
16Everton112451017-710
17Ipswich TownIpswich111551222-108
18Crystal Palace11146815-77
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves111371627-116
20Southampton11119721-144


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