Roy Hodgson's Fulham strugglers have been warned their FA Cup anguish against Newport star Byron Anthony's League One battlers Bristol Rovers has only just begun.
Booed off the field by disenchanted home fans despite twice coming from behind to draw 2-2 with their West Country visitors on Sunday, Fulham now face the daunting prospect of a third-round replay next Tuesday at the Memorial Stadium in Bristol.
"The Mem'', which holds less than 12,000 fans, is due for demolition next summer to make way for a new 18,500-capacity all-seater. It will leave Rovers, managed by ex-Fulham midfielder Paul Trollope, needing to temporarily ground-share again, this time with Cheltenham.
Locals, including Bristol-born Danny Coles, the defender who scored Rovers' first goal after less than three minutes at Craven Cottage, describe the current amenities as "a little bit basic'' and he added: "Hopefully, Fulham will come and look at the facilities and the pitch and stuff and not fancy it too much.
"And if that is the case then it will be up to us to take advantage.
"We know the job is not done yet. Some people might say the hard part is done but the last thing we need is complacency.
"Although we had to defend a lot we still passed it well when we could and we were delighted with our performance at Craven Cottage.
"We still can't help thinking we could have won it on the day but now we have got to get over it and think positively about the replay. I would think Fulham are still favourites.'' Fulham and new boss Hodgson have enough problems to be going on with. Sunday's draw was their 10th game in a row without a win and the former Inter Milan, Blackburn, Switzerland and Finland coach has taken on a squad which has won just three times all season - in all competitions.
Next up in the Premier League are West Ham at Upton Park next Saturday and then leaders Arsenal at home a week later.
Hodgson looks like again losing £3million Algerian striker Hameur Bouazza, who is being assessed by medical experts after appearing to dislocate his right shoulder for the third time this season during the first half on Sunday.
And £6million Senegal striker Diomansy Kamara has flown off to join his compatriots in the African Nations Cup in Ghana.
Hodgson remains remarkably upbeat about his task of turning Fulham's season around even though he admits key midfielder Jimmy Bullard and experienced American striker Brian McBride are still a "few weeks away'' from returning after long-term knee injuries having initially set Christmas as a target.
But Hodgson insists: "I saw in Sunday's performance a foundation, to some extent, on which I can build. Nobody was happy with the result but there was a commitment and a desire there in the team to encourage me.
"You know what Jimmy Bullard is like. He would have played on crutches last week if we had let him, but I have got to take expert medical advice about him and Brian.
"The chairman (Mohamed Al Fayed) is not averse to us bringing in some new players during the transfer window and we are drawing up profiles of what need, but the tough part is fitting faces to those profiles and then trying to sign the ones concerned for Fulham.''
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