Hodgson rues injuries

Fulham manager Roy Hodgson was disappointed after a bad day at the office which saw his team lose 2-0 to Blackburn and pick up two injuries.

The Cottagers went down at Ewood Park thanks to set-piece goals from Christopher Samba and Ryan Nelsen, although they were the better side for the most part.

Paul Konchesky was forced off at half time with an ankle injury and Clint Dempsey joined him on the sidelines not long after the restart.

Hodgson was philosophical in defeat, although he rued the knocks picked up by his players, who will join the West London club's injury list.

"It was a strange game really," he told Sky Sports.

"When they went one up it was the first strike at goal. The corner was a strange mis-kick which ricocheted off Duff onto Samba and into the goal.

"So we felt a little bit aggrieved then and I thought we came back well in that period before half time and really should have got the equaliser in that good spell.

"But then of course we have the misfortune, or the bad play, to concede from another wide free-kick, which, to be frank, we thought was offside.

Complexion

"But it doesn't matter it put us two goals to nil down and that does tend to change the complexion of things, especially when you've lost Konchesky (Paul) at half-time and then you lose Dempsey (Clint) very shortly after that.

"Two nil and I didn't think then that we posed the threat that we had in the first half. In the end you just have to congratulate Blackburn for winning the game."

Hodgson does not know the extent of the injuries picked up by the duo, but thinks Dempsey's may be a serious one.

"Scans of course are the order of the day, we'll have to find out when they're scanned," he added.

"The initial prognosis for Dempsey is not that good because we fear it could be cruciate ligament damage, which of course if it is keeps him out for a while.

"It's an ankle injury for Paul Konchesky and hopefully that won't be as serious, we won't know until the scans are made tomorrow (Monday).

"We've been really unlucky this year with injuries, last year we were very lucky, this year we've been extremely unlucky.

"But it will just be necessary now for the players who get their chance to come in and do well.

"Kallio was a very good substitute for Konchesky in the second half and people who get the chance to play will just have to come out and show that they can do as good a job.

"We need to get back that little bit of edge to our game where we don't win the statistics but we actually win the football match."

Transfer targets

When asked if it was an option to dip into the transfer market during the January window, Hodgson remarked: "Well I suppose it might be yes.

"I mean I don't think it's an ideal time to buy players and I will be reluctant to buy somebody who wasn't really going to be the player we wanted for the longer term.

"I'm really hoping that the players we've got will be able to show that they're good enough and that they'll get us the results because it has happened before."

Erik Nevland appeared to be pulled back by Samba in the second half when bearing down on goal and the Fulham manager believes it should have been a penalty.

"He did get beyond him and he was pulled back so I think it was a penalty," he said.

"I don't think that when people watch it again on television there will be too many people who are discussing the situation who will say that is not a penalty."