The craggy sage of Govan, Sir Alex Ferguson no less, reminds the media every season after the Reds drop a couple of home points, 'it's a marathon not a sprint.'

It's been that and more for the Whites again this season, which remember saw us start back in competitive action last June. Our stumble v Odense means we won't be matching the 63 games the squad put in two years ago en route to Hamburg, and having passed up a real opportunity to take a tilt at the FA Cup, why, the players may find time hanging heavy as we move into spring. Here we are kicking our heels with a clean 14 day break for the senior pros, their first since early last summer.

Fans south of London should keep their eyes peeled for Brede trolling round the garden centre in search of spring bulbs, Clint will no doubt be treating his toddlers to the see-saw and swings of Wimbledon's fine parks, while JAR has plenty of time to let out his best suit before heading off for some internet dates following his latest divorce. Martin I happen to know is addicted to re-running his 'The Sopranos Best of box set' down in Epsom where he practices his Brooklyn growl in the hope of auditioning for a Dutch version of the hit U.S. show.

Only man putting in extra shifts is our on loan striker Pavel. Currently on the physio's couch for his sore ankle the Russian also wants to sharpen up his fitness before our next fixture. On the pitch he certainly hit the ground running. A fine strike into the top corner on debut, quick feet to adapt his position and then unerring accuracy. Unstoppable, a thing of beauty. One could name a few in the current squad who would have arrowed that ball out towards the Cottage...London's coldest snap of the winter had the Russian feeling right at home. He took to swimming early morning in the Serpentine until apprehended by park wardens, who caught him snaring ducks for his supper. "In my country this would be no problem. I like to roast meats and my wife and I planned a B-B-Q for Sunday. We don't consider -3 to be cold."

Pogrebnyak will surely settle to our quaint English ways, and love of animals, in no time. Hope he lets his boots do the talking on the 25th. Though he's still to be confronted by the number of his new colleagues who like to play 'hide and seek' at away matches. There were further plus points from the Stoke win. The Hughes-Hangeland act not just restored, as it was at Everton, but this time able to deal with all the aerial muscle the Potters could muster. What about man-of-the-match Moussa? We've known forever he's no finisher, the player himself admits that, but his undoubted ability to take the ball past opponents and his quick feints and darts suggest he could be Fulham's Modric if he really settles into that deeper role in MF.

Clearly the Russian's game is not that of Zamora. I think this may well be to Fulham's long term advantage. And if we don't get landed with a long injury list for the last dozen games it will be a) easier to drop Ruiz and b) chance a run out for Frei and Trotta. Poorest man in white Saturday was our Costa Rican. He's been tried on the wing to no effect, a real liability in midfield being too lightweight, can't jump and gives the ball away easily, and well, to date he's not really done enough consistently up front to hurt teams. At best for the rest of the season, should Pog really take off, may be using Bryan as a super sub.

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Stoke, as I predicted in my preview, are finding the slog of fixtures catching up with them. They looked disjointed coming forward, almost toothless, in the first 45. Of course, Fulham's usual fallability of taking their foot off the gas meant they put us under for the second half. But once again, and as I suggested, Clint made the difference. Personally, I would have given him that goal, howler from Sorensen not to get it over the bar. And in a bizarre final few minutes Dempsey could have hit two more. The last kick of the match really should have found the net. Luckily we could smile, while letting out a huge sigh of relief at the whistle.

I didn't dwell on the defeat at Man City you may have noticed. While a loss was to be expected their pen while very 50-50 was so avoidable. Dembele underhit a simple 8 metre pass out to the wing that saw City spring the counter, then Senderos got himself into a bad position. The own goal was sheer bad luck, but we were predictably gutless at trying to come back at them. We really will have no excuses for not being fired up for the derby on the 25th. Martin take note, after the weekend results, we are in a very strong position. QPR will be as nervous as hell ahead of this one. We can really win the mind games here with the right mental approach, and we know the travelling fans will do their bit. I'd have the team sat down with the video of the 6-0 every day next week after training.

Scanning opinion since our latest win it would require a major meltdown from the Whites to see us dragged into the relegation fight. This has certainly been a stop start season of crazy highs - QPR, Wisla at home in the autumn, Liverpool, Arsenal and Newcastle, with some truly dreadful performances away, Wolves and Blackburn notably. When I reflect on our decade long stay in the top flight I repeatedly wonder how we survive, such is our predilection for losing to the dead men walking. Defeat at the Loft to di Canio's relegated Hammers in 2002, more recently a 0-1 home loss midweek to Hull with their last - and only - attack in stoppage time. The Hammers again at home last season ruining Christmas for all Fulham followers. Pray we don't see the 'dead cat bounce' from the rabble that is Wolves come March. Martin says the next 30 days define our run in. Rangers, Wolves, Aston Villa - these are very poor teams. And remind ourselves how satisfying it was for example to pull the rug from under Birmingham last May with a win at their place that pushed them over the edge.

Time for nice friendly Fulham to turn ruthless say I! That new blond boy up front looks the kinda guy who would wrestle a crocodile for fun or dig you out of a snow drift...Let's get serious, put more daylight between us and the bottom five, and end the season on a high. COYW!
Twitter@fulhamphil