Fulham manager Roy Hodgson set his sights on winning the FA Cup
this season after seeing his side beat Notts County to make the
last eight.
Simon Davies, Bobby Zamora, Damien Duff and Stefano Okaka
scored in the 4-0 win at Craven Cottage on Sunday to set up a
last-eight clash against Bolton or Tottenham in the competition
Fulham have never won.
Hodgson accepts survival in the Premier League is his
priority and reaching Europe like they have this year is a bonus -
but his team are now two matches from the final and could continue
their remarkable turnaround in the two years since his arrival.
"It would mean a lot to us," Hodgson said. "It would be
another major step forward with the progression at the club. We'll
be highly motivated and nervous about the quarter-final because we
badly want a good result.
"There have been fewer winners of the FA Cup since the
inauguration of the Premier League. It's wrong to compare the
mythical Fulham teams of the 60s and 70s or even the showbiz teams
when Rodney Marsh, George Best and Bobby Moore were playing in the
same team.
"We have to be more journeyman-like in our approach because
staying in the league is so important. It's not a case of Rodney
Marsh doing a few tricks or George Best beating a man and having a
rest for five minutes. That's not possible.
"Success is probably a continued presence in the Premier
League, if we could go one step further that would be fantastic."
Fulham have avoided Chelsea in the next round and will be
helped by Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool having already
been knocked out.
"For the teams left, they won't regret three of the
traditional top four in the country not being there," Hodgson
added. "We think we have as good chance as the others. It's nice to
have the lottery ticket because you cannot win the lottery without
one."
The scoreline flattered Fulham, with Notts County performing
well in patches and Craig Westcarr forcing Mark Schwarzer into a
fine save just before Zamora doubled the lead.
"It was a real potential banana skin and I'm just happy we
didn't slip up on it," Hodgson said. "I wasn't wrong to suggest
they would give us a good game.
"It worked perfectly because we saw the game through and were
able to rest players for the last 20 minutes with a game on
Thursday and Sunday coming up.
"It could have been less goals but it is nice to get four
goals and be in the hat."
Notts County caretaker boss Dave Kevan was pleased with his
side's performance following a traumatic week when the club was
sold for £1 and Sven-Goran Eriksson resigned from his role as
director of football.
Kevan is still positive about earning promotion from League
Two.
"We're very sorry to see Sven and Tord (Grip) leave, it was a
privilege to work with them," Kevan said. "But there is a lot of
football to be played. The aim is to get out of League Two and we
can still do it.
"Sven called me and said we could beat them. Hopefully I'll
speak to him on the way home."
He added: "The players were fantastic and worked tremendously
hard. We created some good chances in both halves so I'm proud how
they played. They can take credit for that.
"They have to take that performance and transmit it into
League Two football.
"We felt the scoreline flattered Fulham, it was a bit harsh
on us. They were more clinical, as you'd expect."
