Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic has challenged his players to be brave enough to pile the pressure on promotion rivals Cardiff as the season approaches its climax.
The third-placed Whites head into Friday night’s clash with relegated Sunderland knowing victory will take them into second, for a few hours at least, before the Bluebirds travel to Hull the following day in the penultimate round of fixtures.
Jokanovic is acutely aware that even victory over the Black Cats and at Birmingham on the final day of the campaign might not be enough to secure automatic promotion, but is looking to add two more victories to an unbeaten run of 22 games to keep the dream alive.
He told the club’s website: “We have positive pressure before we play against Sunderland. It’s important we don’t make mistakes, but the situation is completely under Cardiff’s control. If they win these two games, we cannot do anything.
“In front of us are two ways of being successful: one is short [automatic promotion], another is longer [the play-offs]. We must be ready for both ways.
“If you don’t finish second – which is more or less normal for us because we’ve never been in this position during this year – you must be brave, do your job, and see what happens.
Sunderland travel south already facing life in League One next season following their second successive relegation.
With Fulham and champions Wolves to come in their final two games, things could get worse before they get better, but manager Chris Coleman insists they will not be throwing in the towel.
Former Fulham man Coleman said at his pre-match press conference: “The season is 46 games. I’m not complaining to anybody else because we have been relegated. It’s our fault, it’s our problem.
“We’ll try to take care of our own business and if anybody is promoted or relegated it’s because it’s on them and it’s across the season.