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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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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool14112129111835
2Chelsea1594235181731
3Arsenal1585229151429
4Manchester CityMan City158342721627
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest157441918125
6Aston Villa157442323025
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton156632522324
8Bournemouth157352320324
9Brentford157263128323
10Fulham156542220223
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1562731191220
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle155551921-220
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd155461918119
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham155372028-818
15Everton143561421-714
16Leicester CityLeicester153572130-914
17Crystal Palace152761420-613
18Ipswich TownIpswich151681427-139
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1523102338-159
20Southampton1512121131-205


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