Mac: No six ’n out
KEVIN McDONALD insists there is no way Fulham will fall out of the play-off zone after finally climbing into the top six.
Sone Aluko’s 66th-minute goal ensured Slavisa Jokanovic’s side leapfrogged Sheffield Wednesday into sixth – and condemned Rotherham to the drop.
Fulham’s hopes of making the end of season shake-up had been hit after they took just one point from home clashes with struggling Blackburn and Wolves.
But midfielder McDonald insists the Cottagers’ belief never wavered. He said: “The play-offs was always ours to lose.
“We know we play Sheffield Wednesday in the last game of the season, so it has been in our hands for a good couple of weeks now and we’ve managed to creep into that top six.
“But now we’re in there, it’s up to ourselves – we’ve been playing the whole season to be in the top six and we’re in there now and we have to fight for our lives to stay there. We’re quietly confident. We have some tough games on the road but sometimes that suits us.
“We’re ready to take the games to these other teams, but we know ourselves we’re nowhere near it yet and still have seven games to go so it will be a real grind towards the end of the season.”
Rotherham became the first side in the top six divisions to be relegated but midfielder Richie Smallwood pledged his future to the club.
He said: “I want to stay, I’m not one to throw in the towel just because we’ve gone down a league.
“I don’t want to leave. I’ve had some great moments and I’d like to keep them going next season.
“We have to take it game by game and get some confidence to take into next season.”