Fulham are contemplating the amazing bonus of a "possible" European campaign next season as an incredible bonus to their last-day survival in the Barclays Premier League as they won at Portsmouth, condemning Reading and Birmingham City to the drop.
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 comfor
tably.
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 Sunday, 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 certainly a possibility that we could be playing in the UEFA Cup.
"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."
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