ROY WARNS BIRMINGHAM OVER TACTICS

Hodgson - warns Birmingham.

Fulham boss Roy Hodgson has warned Birmingham he will take measures to prevent any dubious tactics in Saturday's relegation clash.

Hodgson will seek out referee Chris Foy before the Craven Cottage showdown to highlight a move used by Birmingham that he deems to be illegal.

The Blues have blocked the opposition keeper's vision at free-kicks by stationing defender Radhi Jaidi behind the wall, a ploy that led to a goal for Sebastian Larsson against Liverpool last weekend.

Hodgson is mystified as to why Birmingham have not been penalised for what he views as an indisputable offside.

"To me, like everybody else, it's clearly offside," said the former Inter Milan coach.

"They're seeking to gain an advantage, which standing in the goalkeeper's line of sight at a free-kick so obviously is.

"I thought not gaining an advantage meant you literally had nothing to do with play.

"I understand the rule is open to interpretation but when you position someone deliberately five or six yards behind the wall to block the keeper's vision it's attempting to interfere with play.

"I will have to speak to the referee before the game to ascertain his views on the subject.

"I'm surprised there hasn't been more of a debate on this subject because I just can't see for the life of my how it can be justified.

"If this tactic is going to be allowed then I fear we'll see some very strange things happening in the future.

"You could get teams lining up 10 players on the edge of the six-yard box and then all of them ducking when the shot comes in."

With the stakes so high at Craven Cottage, it is little wonder Hodgson is determined to address any grey areas.

Victory could lift Fulham out of the bottom three for the first time since December 26, leaving them with a nail-biting finale at Portsmouth to secure their top flight status.

Birmingham, who sit one place higher in 18th, know that defeat might condemn them to an immediate return to the Championship.

In an effort to tip the balance in Fulham's favour, chairman Mohamed Al Fayed will deliver the pre-match team-talk.

"With his style his presence before kick-off will possibly be more inspirational than had he visited the training ground during the week," said Hodgson.

"The players have reacted positively to him in the past. He's been down to the training ground a couple of times recently and was really well received.

"It just proves his passion for the club and wholehearted commitment to staying in the division. He's really showing his colours by doing this."

Fulham have won two of their last three games - including a heroic 3-2 victory over Manchester City - to give themselves a glimmer of hope but Hodgson knows that opportunity can be ripped from their grasp in a flash.

"Coming back like we did against City when we were 2-0 down is the stuff of dreams," he said.

"Now we have a small chance of escaping relegation, but any chance is nice to have at this stage.

"We know we have to beat Birmingham and Portsmouth to be in with a shout of staying up, but even then fate could deny us on goal difference.

"I expect it to be very tense and nervy tomorrow, but we're a better team now than we were a month ago.

"Often this type of game is decided by a single shot or twist of fate and you always fear the extraordinary could go against you."