Fulham chairman Mohamed Al Fayed insists he will "keep on believing" that Roy Hodgson's side can achieve top-flight survival this season.They face a crucial trip to bottom club Derby on Saturday but form is against them having failed to win away from Craven Cottage for 18 months.

Despite their disappointing campaign so far, Al Fayed remains confident that Hodgson can steer the club away from the foot of the Premier League.

"I know that we are in a difficult situation and a win on Saturday would be an enormous step forward in our fight for survival, but regardless of Saturday's result, there are still enough points to play for," said Al Fayed.

"I want to encourage the boys to play with freedom and self-belief at Pride Park, to endeavour to get the best result possible to improve our current position.

"Of course we are realistic about where we are, but it is important that we are confident that we can reverse it.

"Our fate is in our own hands and having spoken to many of the players I know that they remain focused on the challenge ahead and committed to keeping Fulham in the Premier League where we belong as a club."

Al Fayed believes Hodgson is the right man to lead the club to safety but he recognises the importance of improving their goalscoring record.

"Roy has organised his team and got them playing better football than we were previously," added Al Fayed.

"Obviously we haven't scored enough goals recently and of course that is something that we need to improve it we are to be in with a chance of survival.

"Again I am convinced that we can do that. I have said it before - no task is insurmountable and this one is no different.

"We still have enough games left to change our own fortunes and I believe that we can, and until such time that it is not mathematically possible for us to remain a Premier League team, I will keep on believing."

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