Next stop Europe for Fulham?

Last Modified: 12 May 2008
Source: ITN

After narrowly avoiding the drop Fulham are left contemplating a place in Europe next season.

Danny Murphy's 76th-minute header brought Roy Hodgson's team a fourth win in five games - and a third away triumph in a row - against FA Cup finalists Portsmouth to pip Reading and Birmingham on goal difference even though those sides also won comfortably.

And now it emerges Fulham could be handed a place in the qualifying round for next season's Uefa Cup as reward for their success in the European Fair Play League.

England have already clinched another Uefa Cup place through this unlikely avenue and it goes to the 'fairest' team not already qualified for Europe - which looked certain, up until yesterday, to be Manchester City.

But City had Richard Dunne sent off in their 8-1 trouncing at Middlesbrough and it is thought this could be enough to put them behind the Cottagers in the Fair Play League.

Fulham's communications officer Sarah Brooks said: "It is a complicated situation in which administration efficiency is also taken into consideration as well as on-field behaviour but we know we are in a good position and expect to have confirmation from the Premier League early next week."

The notion of Fulham making the Uefa Cup having just dodged relegation brings a crazy slant to the entire process of European qualification and provides an almost surreal flavour to an amazing day when the club's hopes and dreams all came true.

These news feeds are provided by an independent third party and Channel 4 is not responsible or liable to you for the same.