The west Londoners secured their fifth win in seven games yesterday as goals from Clint Dempsey and Mousa Dembele helped them to a 2-1 victory at Craven Cottage.

The result means Jol will return to former club Tottenham next weekend knowing the Cottagers lie one point shy of their previous record, secured under Roy Hodgson in the 2008/09 season.

A record-equalling seventh-place finish is also within grasp but Jol will be happy even if they fall short.

"It will be my first game back at White Hart Lane and it will be nice [to get the record]," he said.

"There is not a lot of pressure on us and it would be nice to get three points.

"I would like Spurs to play in the Champions League, of course, but, on the other hand, if we can get three points that would be good.

"I am satisfied with what we have achieved and this is probably our best season ever when combining with European football.

"Of course, they were higher in the league before but then they didn't have to play all these games in Europe.

"We played almost 40 games before Christmas and to still be on 52 points is a good achievement."

Sunderland counterpart Martin O'Neill struck a frustrated figure after the game.

The Black Cats are without a win in seven league matches after the loss, which was made especially irritating after Dembele scored Fulham's winner straight after Phil Bardsley had pulled them level.

"I think that obviously we missed some gilt-edged chances and eventually that proved the difference in the game," O'Neill said.

"Overall it was an encouraging performance by us and in possession I thought we passed the ball pretty well today so to concede just after we scored a great equaliser was particularly galling.

"We went to sleep after the equaliser and maybe we were distracted by the fact that [Stephane] Sessegnon had to change his footwear at that time.

"I would say within 10 seconds of kick-off they have made it 2-1 so it just nullifies our goal immediately and sets you on the back foot.

"We should have done better. We should have dealt with it better, but overall we are learning.

"It was Ji Dong-won's first start under me. I knew he would get pretty tired in the last half an hour but I thought there were some very encouraging signs."