Hodgson Pleased With Europa League Progress

Last updated : 27 August 2009 By Sam
Fulham had won 3-1 in the first leg at Craven Cottage but just a 1-0 defeat in Russia secured their place in the group stages.

"I thought it was a very good game and I'm very happy that we went through," the Fulham boss said after the match on Thursday afternoon.

"Amkar played particularly well today and made life difficult for us throughout the ninety minutes.

"Of course with the very late goal it made the last five minutes of the game extra exciting.

"In the second half, or the last part of the match at Craven Cottage and the 90 minutes today, Amkar have shown that they are a very good quality team and they have stretched us to the limit in order to get our qualification.

"The fact that they came forward and played so well was all credit to them.

"I don't think today we attacked well, I don't think we passed the ball well, I don't think we used the ball very well when we got it, so we were guilty of giving the ball away back to the opposition far too often."