BOSS KEPT FAITH IN GREAT ESCAPE

Hodgson - never gave up.

Roy Hodgson insists that even in their darkest hour Fulham never gave up hope of producing a remarkable escape act that will rank alongside any in Barclays Premier League history.

Hodgson himself appeared to have thrown in the towel when a 3-1 home drubbing by Sunderland left them six points adrift of safety with five matches to go.

But a fine victory at the Madejski Stadium that sucked frail Reading back into the dogfight sparked a run of three wins in four matches that has left them contemplating survival.

Carnival scenes greeted Saturday's epic triumph over Birmingham as Hodgson joined chairman Mohamed Al Fayed and the team for a lap of honour.

The players brought their children onto the pitch to celebrate a successful final home game as delirious home fans chanted "we are staying up, we are staying up".

Hodgson was quick to sound a note of caution that events at Portsmouth next Sunday could yet send them tumbling into the Coca-Cola Championship.

But the 60-year-old maintains that when all seemed lost, the club was adamant it could match the Houdini-esque escapades of West Brom and West Ham in previous years.

"It would be a great achievement by the team if we stay up - I'm just a part of it," said Hodgson.

"I wish there were six or seven games left to play and if there were I'd be feeling really confident that we could get ourselves out if it.

"I fear we've left it very late but the great thing is we go to the last game with a chance of success. Three or four weeks ago our chances looked so slim.

"But we never lost faith in ourselves and always felt we could do it.

"However, I don't blame other people for not sharing that belief as logically it looked like we were going down."

To their enormous credit, Fulham have sought to play their way out of trouble and have adhered rigidly to the passing philosophy favoured by Hodgson.

The fruits of his labour have blossomed in recent weeks and Hodgson insists the only praise he wants for the team's revival is for his influence on the training ground.

"The work we've done in practice has been underestimated. I'm first and foremost a coach," he said.

"I'm not the type of manager who stands there in a suit or spends the time in the office while other people oversee five-a-side. I go out onto the field and work on our attacking and defending.

"If I was to be given credit for anything over the last four months I'd like it to be for the way the team has played - the way we've tried to attack and defend."

Skipper Brian McBride converted Jimmy Bullard's 52nd-minute free-kick to reward Fulham's endeavour before Erik Nevland added a late second.

It was the first time the Cottagers had registered successive Premiership victories since September 2006 and Hodgson revealed chairman Mohamed Al Fayed played his part in the outcome.

"Mr Al Fayed talked to the players individually before the game, wishing them luck," he said.

"I don't mind him coming into the changing room at all - it's his club.

"When I was at Inter Milan (president) Massimo Moratti would always come into the dressing room before and after the game. I thought that was good.

"It proves the chairman is 100% behind the players and that he identifies with them. Mr Al Fayed made a big effort before the Birmingham match and I'm sure it was appreciated."

Fulham's prospects of avoiding the drop have been improved by Portsmouth's involvement in the FA Cup final.

Birmingham manager Alex McLeish refuses to grumble at the hand fate has dealt him with the Blues needing all the help they can to come back from the brink.

"If Portsmouth choose to select a reserve team that's up to them," said the Scot.

"We wouldn't like it but that's the way it's panned out and we'd have to accept that. But Portsmouth are capable of winning even with their reserves."

Birmingham must prevail against Blackburn at St Andrews next Sunday to have any chance of surviving and McLeish insists they will leave nothing in the locker room.

"We have to go out to win. We have nothing to lose and must throw caution to the wind," he said.