Hughes shakes off away blues

FULHAM boss Mark Hughes believes his players may have achieved a “season-defining” result with their 2-0 victory at Stoke yesterday.

The Cottagers moved out of the Barclays Premier League relegation zone thanks to Chris Baird’s early double at the Britannia Stadium, the Northern Ireland international striking twice from outside the area in the opening 10 minutes.

The win – Fulham’s first away from home in the league in 27 attempts – lifted some of the pressure on Hughes, who paid tribute to what he felt was an outstanding all-round performance by his team.

“We came here with frustration – that was the thing we were all feeling in terms of where we were sat in the league, but that helped our focus and I thought we were immense,’ Hughes said. “Everybody on the field of play was exceptional – big performances from every part of the team, and that is what you need.

“Maybe that has been lacking in away games, that intensity that you need and resolute mindset.

“So we set the standard today in terms of that and it could be a season-defining win for us.”

Asked if he had sought assurances about his future from the Fulham board, Hughes said: “No, not at all. I don’t feel I need to.

“I have got great support from (chief executive) Alistair Mackintosh and I spoke to the chairman (Mohamed Al Fayed) last night, who is very supportive. They understand where we are and what we need, and the reasons we find ourselves in the bottom half.

“We will look to address them, but in the meantime, the guys I have got playing for me are doing their best, and today was excellent.”

Hughes did not receive a handshake after the game from his opposite number Tony Pulis, something the 47-year-old believed was a reaction to how he had conducted himself at the end of a Carling Cup tie between the two sides in September.

“He is probably getting his own back, because I did a similar thing last time in the League Cup because I was a little bit aggrieved one of his players (Andy Wilkinson) had taken out Moussa Dembele when it was unnecessary,” Hughes said.

Pulis confirmed that to be the case. “He has done it when we played in the League Cup and now I have done it back,” Pulis said.

STOKE: Begovic, Wilkinson (Wilson 79), Shawcross, Huth, Collins, Pennant, Whitehead, Delap, Etherington (Sanli 69), Walters (Fuller 55), Jones.

FULHAM: Schwarzer, Pantsil, Hangeland, Hughes, Baird, Davies, Murphy, Etuhu, Duff, Dempsey, Andrew Johnson.

Referee: Kevin Friend.