THERE’S NO HANGOVER Cairney backs his belief with new Cottage deal
TOM CAIRNEY is backing Fulham to cope with the added burden of expectation at Craven Cottage.
Slavisa Jokanovic’s men are among the promotion favourites after marching into the play-offs last season.
They emerged from the pack as dark horses before falling short and suffering semi-final heartache against Reading.
Cairney, who along with wonderkid Ryan Sessegnon shunned a Premier League switch to sign a new deal, will once again hold the key to ending their three-year top-flight exile.
And the Scottish midfielder, who is facing a race to be fit for the opener at home to Norwich today, said: “At the start of last season we weren’t tipped to be anywhere near the play-offs.
“Teams will be more aware of us now, will be defensive and look to frustrate us. But we have the players to win games and back up what we did.
“We want to continue with how we left off. All the players have another year of experience under their belts at this level. We feel confident of going again.”
Targets
Jokanovic insists there will be no hangover from last season’s play-off agony.
Jokanovic has queried Fulham’s reliance on statistics over their transfer targets but there have been six arrivals, including £5m Amiens striker Abou Kamara.
And the Serbian has seen enough in pre-season to be convinced his team are ready to challenge again.
Jokanovic said: “Who was it we lost to – Sheffield Wednesday? I have forgotten all about it. I care only about the present and the future. There is no time to cry about what happened, it is last season. The priority is now.
“You have good and bad examples from near misses. Brighton last year for example (won promotion) after missing out on goal difference the year before.
“The players here are ready from what I have seen in pre-season.
“The press like to ask if we are one of the favourites to go up, we will only know next May.
“Last year no one thought we would be in the top six. Kamara can be a very important player for us. He is young, and it can take time to adapt to the competition and life.
“But he is fast and strong, has lots of ambition and can attack the space behind defenders.”