Fair Play reward for Fulham

Hughes: Cottagers could be back in Europe via Fair Play standing

Fulham could claim a surprise route back to the Europa League next season via the Fair Play system.

""We're two points away from the 40-point marker, which is traditionally the cut off point for league safety." "
Aaron Hughes Quotes of the week

The Cottagers finished runners-up in last year's competition under the stewardship of Roy Hodgson.

At present, the top three countries in the Respect Fair Play League are awarded an extra Europa League place under the Uefa rules and England are currently second behind Norway.

Fulham are the highest placed team in the Premier League's Fair Play table who have not otherwise qualified for Europe.

Mark Hughes' team are currently second behind Chelsea with an average rating of 8.42 over their 30 games this season.

Challenge

Meanwhile, Aaron Hughes has challenged Fulham to banish the memory of their 2-0 defeat to Manchester United on Saturday and finish the season strongly.

It was a game that the title chasers won quite comfortably but the Northern Ireland international is confident Fulham can bounce back.

"Old Trafford is a difficult place to get anything from, never mind when you go two goals behind," Hughes told the club's official website.

"We are obviously very frustrated by how the game went and to be fair to United they did enough didn't they?"

Fulham now have just six games left of the season which includes matches against Wolves, Bolton and Sunderland.

The Cottagers are 11th in table and just two points shy of the 40-point barrier - the threshold normally associated with safety.

"With no game this weekend, we have plenty of time to go away and prepare for what is an important run of fixtures," he added.

"We're two points away from the 40-point marker, which is traditionally the cut off point for league safety."