FULHAM boss Roy Hodgson has urged his players to show the mental strength needed to deal with a fluctuating Barclays Premier League table.
Four points separate the bottom 11 teams with the Cottagers nestled precariously in the midst of the pack battling to stay out of the relegation zone.
Just one defeat can plunge a club several places down the table and, 10 games into the season, Hodgson believes it is important not to read too much into their position.
"It could be a totally different bottom three after this weekend and it may then change again the following weekend," he said.
"What would bother me is being marooned at the bottom of the table.
"It bothered me that when I came to the club we had four hard games ahead of us and by the end of that we were cut adrift at the bottom.
"A good result might lift us into a prematurely false dawn and a defeat might put us into a prematurely false gloom.
"We have to learn to be mentally strong to deal with the situation. A win must not have us think everything's okay, we've cracked it.
"On the other hand, we can't think that because we draw or lose that it's all over for us. That would be ridiculous when it's this close."
Fulham have a settled look to their team with Hodgson keeping faith with the same 11 players since the start of the season, barring injuries.
They have registered just three victories so far but Hodgson will field the same starting XI for some time to come, claiming they have not received the rewards their efforts deserved.
"Teams that are playing well and scoring get the lucky goals as well," he said.
"Aston Villa are having a good season and the goal they scored last night (in the UEFA Cup) was fairly lucky, taking a deflection.
"That's what happens when you're on a high and when things are down they don't happen. You have to believe.
"I believe the players we have are good enough to get the results we want.
"There will still be some ups and downs so we must keep our feet on the ground. I'll stick by the squad.
"We have players who maybe feel they haven't had the chances they feel they deserve so far.
"They'll be hoping to get their chance if things don't improve, but I'll be sticking with this squad at the moment.
"We're not pretending to challenge the top four, but we do want to challenge the teams below them and that's what we're aiming to do."
Just one defeat can plunge a club several places down the table and, 10 games into the season, Hodgson believes it is important not to read too much into their position.
"It could be a totally different bottom three after this weekend and it may then change again the following weekend," he said.
"What would bother me is being marooned at the bottom of the table.
"It bothered me that when I came to the club we had four hard games ahead of us and by the end of that we were cut adrift at the bottom.
"A good result might lift us into a prematurely false dawn and a defeat might put us into a prematurely false gloom.
"We have to learn to be mentally strong to deal with the situation. A win must not have us think everything's okay, we've cracked it.
"On the other hand, we can't think that because we draw or lose that it's all over for us. That would be ridiculous when it's this close."
Fulham have a settled look to their team with Hodgson keeping faith with the same 11 players since the start of the season, barring injuries.
They have registered just three victories so far but Hodgson will field the same starting XI for some time to come, claiming they have not received the rewards their efforts deserved.
"Teams that are playing well and scoring get the lucky goals as well," he said.
"Aston Villa are having a good season and the goal they scored last night (in the UEFA Cup) was fairly lucky, taking a deflection.
"That's what happens when you're on a high and when things are down they don't happen. You have to believe.
"I believe the players we have are good enough to get the results we want.
"There will still be some ups and downs so we must keep our feet on the ground. I'll stick by the squad.
"We have players who maybe feel they haven't had the chances they feel they deserve so far.
"They'll be hoping to get their chance if things don't improve, but I'll be sticking with this squad at the moment.
"We're not pretending to challenge the top four, but we do want to challenge the teams below them and that's what we're aiming to do."
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