• Premier League

Embattled Jol up for the fight

Martin Jol admitted before the match his job would be on the line if results did not go in Fulham's favour © PA Photos

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Fulham manager Martin Jol has insisted he is "ready to fight" after his side's 3-0 defeat at West Ham intensified the pressure surrounding his position at Craven Cottage.

Jol admitted prior to his side's trip to Upton Park he may have needed a positive result in the London derby to hang onto his job, but he is determined to try and revive his Fulham career in Wednesday night's game at home to Tottenham.

When asked whether he feared he would lose his job following this latest defeat, Jol would only say "that is not in my hands" - after owner Shahid Kahn bought the club in the summer.

"There are plenty of managers under pressure, but I am a fighter and I will fight," said a defiant Jol. "There is nothing wrong with the spirit or mentality [of the team], but you can see that we need to be stronger. Not just physically, we need to be stronger when you see their second and third goals.

"If I have to worry, I was probably worried a couple of months ago because it is not one day and then the other. It is probably the last two months we have been inconsistent, but you have to keep your head cool.

"We have done well in training and the manner of this defeat is disappointing. It was very unfortunate that we could not exploit situations. Their first goal killed us off. The first goal was after 46 minutes and the two late goals finished it for them.

"If you concede four or five games on the trot and concede awful goals like we did, of course confidence is low. You have to be strong and fight to get out of this position. This felt like a must win them for them and us, but it is an away game so it is not easy. Hopefully we get out of this situation quickly."

Jol went on to offer a stout defence of his long record in the game, as he suggested he has done a good job at Fulham since he was appointed in the summer of 2011.

"I think it has worked out for me here," added the former Tottenham and Ajax boss "We had over 100 points, probably more than West Ham, over the last couple of years, more than any other team in the bottom half of the table, but over the last couple of months I think sometimes we are not strong enough.

"I am someone with maybe 700, 800 or 900 games under my belt as a manager, 1,400 probably in total. I know that three points can probably give you a total different view and a different world.

"This run is why we are in the bottom three because that will happen if you don't get the points. If we had beaten West Ham, they would probably be in the same situation."

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