Jimmy Bullard is backing Fulham to stage another great escape and beat the Premier League drop.
The midfielder was key part of Roy Hodgson’s side that were 45 minutes away from relegation in the 2007/08 season before a remarkable turnaround saw them win their final three games to seal survival on a dramatic final day.
Scott Parker’s side are 18th in the table having spent almost the entire season in the bottom three but a stunning victory at Liverpool last Sunday means they are still in touching distance with the teams above them.
Bullard believes his old side can repeat the feat performed by Hodgson’s heroes.
He said: “I remember Man City, we were 2-0 down at half-time away at a serious club.
“At half-time, Roy says ‘Just win this half. If we lose this game, we’re down’.
“And we won the game 3-2. It was an amazing result. That game is where it all changed.
“I had friends in the stadium, they left at half-time to go to the pub. They thought ‘Nah, Fulham are down’.
“They came all the way from the south-east and left. And then they’re in the pub and they found out we won 3-2 and they couldn’t believe they’d missed the best game of their lives.”
Fulham will need to upset the odds again as they host league-leaders Manchester City on Saturday night.
Parker has overseen noticeable defensive improvement and his side have conceded only twice in their last seven games.
But they have scored just three goals in that time and Bullard insists Fulham’s misfiring forwards must step up during the run-in.
“It will come down to your strikers in the end,” he said. “It did with us [in 2008].
“Aleksandar Mitrovic, those players need to really step up to the plate. I know it’s added pressure for them but that’s what they get paid the big dough for.
“That’s strikers: big dollar, big pressures.
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“It happens year in, year out. The teams that stay up, their strikers come in and score more goals towards the end to stay up. Simple as that.
“No disrespect to defenders, because we’re all in a team, but I believe it’s easier to keep it safe and to stop goals than it is to score goals.
“That, there in a nutshell is the key to staying up.”
Parker will be keeping a close eye on Friday night's fixture which pits relegation-threatened Newcastle - currently one point above Fulham with a game in hand - against Aton Villa.
Fulham face Newcastle on the final day of the season and Bullard - who assisted Danny Murphy's winner against Portsmouth on the final day in 2008 - is relishing the potential relegation-deciding showdown.
He added: “I believe Fulham can avoid relegation. I love them and I want them to survive.
“Is it going to be tough? Yes.
“Newcastle being the final game, wow. It would be epic if it came down to that. But Newcastle will be feeling the same thing.
“I’ll be there on the final day, don’t worry about that.”
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