Brian McBride's first goal since the beginning of the season settled a hard-fought contest against Everton at Craven Cottage to boost Fulham's survival hopes.

McBride's return from a six-month knee injury lay-off could be crucial for Fulham but Hodgson has been left equally cheered by the collective spirit within the camp.

"We knew we had to get the victory," Hodgson said.

"When you are fighting for your life at the bottom, the motivation is always going to be that little bit stronger than when you are trying for fourth place and the Champions League.

"I thought it was a good performance by the team in every respect and the goal that won the game was a worthy winner.

"Brian is an experienced player. He is 36 and a talismanic figure at the club. It was just that little bit of quality that was needed because both teams were defending and fighting hard.

"We have got eight extremely important matches and if we want to stay up we have got to reproduce this performance eight more times.

"We've only got three more home games. I don't need reminding we have not won away from home but if we are going to get the necessary number of victories we need, a couple are going to have to be away from home."

Hodgson continued: "We did well today but there is still a lot of work to do. We are working at it.

"I have got to be positive and today against a good team vying for fourth place in the league, I would defy anyone to say there was a major class difference between the two teams.

"I am pleased with the hunger, appetite and desire of the players. When I came here things were not good and the players were beginning to hang their heads.

"But people have stood up to be counted. Morale is always low when teams are losing. That is a fact of life.

"Confidence comes when you are playing well and winning. If you not playing well and losing then you can speak until you are blue in the face but the first time a couple of passes go astray, then the confidence goes out of the window.

"If you work very hard with the players on the training ground every day and keep the mood in the squad as good as it can be, then you have got a chance."

Everton manager David Moyes insisted that Liverpool remain favourites to clinch the fourth Champions League spot after his side's first league defeat since December.

Although Moyes has not given up on fourth spot, Everton are now three points behind their Merseyside rivals which he claimed put them in pole position.

"Liverpool were always favourites, I've said that many times," Moyes said.

"We are just going to try and win as many as we can and keep going. We've been on a great run but today was not one of our better performances.

"The players have been terrific but today we dropped below the high standards we have set. I am disappointed with today's game.

"The players have been excellent and this is our first defeat in I don't know how many league games but we've not got a great record at Fulham."

Everton's chances were hampered even further by an early groin injury to striker Andrew Johnson and Moyes admitted the lack of attacking options is becoming something of a concern.

The Everton manage was already without Tim Cahill, James Vaughan and Victor Anichebe through injury and Johnson's enforced substitution has not helped.

Moyes added: "It is a concern at the moment - Andy has a groin strain but I looked at my bench and I didn't have a lot of options.

"The mood has been good and the club has done great. I am just disappointed we didn't play well but I have to give Fulham credit because they made it hard for us.

"I didn't think it was a game of many chances and they shaded the half chances more than us. We should have done much better and stopped their goal.

"I don't like anybody scoring against but Brian is a great player, great professional and he deserves everything he gets."