Most footballers say they don’t look at league tables - Tom Cairney does.
And the Fulham midfielder who celebrated his 25th birthday yesterday admits right now they don’t make for healthy reading.
All the more reason Cairney and co are hoping to get one over Hull on Saturday and move away from the foot of the Championship.
His boss reckoned Fulham’s indifferent season has much to do with four faces at the helm, and a wait of 49 days before Slavisa finally Jokanovic became the latest in the hot seat.
Cairney would beg to differ. He blames himself and his team-mates for the Whites 19th place - four points off the drop zone.
Remember the great goal Cairney scored at Hull earlier in the season? Here's a reminder.
“You can blame it on all the managers, or coaches as they were called.
“But we’ve got to look at ourselves,” he said. “We were the ones on the pitch. We played a lot of different formations, with a lot of different line-ups, but we’ve got enough quality to win games of football.
“I wouldn’t say we are going to get relegated, but we’ve got to get a few good results so we can look up and not look down.
“Personally, I do look at the table. I’m always interested to know who’s where. I believe we’re going to climb but I wouldn’t have thought we’d be where we are.”
The man who cost the club a reported £3.5 million when bought from Blackburn in the summer meets up with one of his old managers on Saturday, and it would have been two in a row had Rovers not been involved in FA Cup action next week.
Cairney has a lot of respect for City boss Steve Bruce, who interested Fulham at one stage when
seeking a long term replacement for deposed Kit Symons.
“Steve knows this division inside out,” Cairney said. “He knows how to get out of this league and that’s why Hull are where they are.
“He’s great character and knows the right time to take the Mick. On the flip side he can be scary. That comes from experience.”
Fulham have been told by Jokanovic to play higher up the pitch and gamble. Cairney thinks it a bold move.
He explained: “It’s very intense playing high up the pitch. A lot of teams in this division don’t play like that. They want to hit on the break, but I think it means he wants us brave on the ball as well.
“That suits me, and I’m enjoying it. All we need now are wins.”
Tickets against Hull City are available by calling: 0843 208 1234 or visiting: www.fulhamfc.com/tickets
Tickets will also be available from turnstiles on the day of the game.
