Danny Murphy believes Fulham will soon start to pick up away points - because they are refusing to feel sorry for themselves when things go wrong, writes Richard Warwick.

The Whites gained their first point on their travels with Sunday's 1-1 draw at Portsmouth, having previously lost all three league games - and a Carling Cup reverse at Burnley.

Now Murphy thinks it will be the first of many.

"It's a cliché used a lot in football, about character and team spirit, but I think we've shown we've got that," said Murphy.

"It would have been easy for us to drop our heads.

"In recent weeks away from home we've been saying we're unlucky but it's no good to keep saying it, you've got to get the points on the board.

"Away from home it has been a bad start, but one win in the first few games away from home would have put a completely different look on the beginning of the season.

"After the defeat at Hull and then Blackburn, where we lost in the last five minutes, it becomes a bit of a mental thing.

"We went in at half time against West Brom, after playing really well, but not being in front again and you start thinking: "deja vu." It would have been easy to feel sorry for ourselves.

"But [at Portsmouth] we set out our game plan to make sure that we were hard to beat and we've shown a good work rate, a good work ethic and togetherness."

This season, Fulham have tightened up defensively as they attempt to avoid being sucked into another relegation battle.

They have only conceded seven goals in the league so far and never more than two in a game.

Worryingly though, they have only scored six, but Murphy is confident that the team's work rate and commitment will result in an improvement in results, and more goals.

Murphy said: "It is difficult finding that balance between going forward and scoring plenty of goals, and being defensively sound. I think our goals against is pretty good.

"I think defensively we've done quite well this season and if you look at last season, we let in a lot of goals and towards the end of the season the reason we stayed up, of course we won some games, but it was because we won games with clean sheets mostly.

"We need to push on and try and get goals, especially away from home because we've struggled away from home.

"I don't think it has been a lack of chances. We just need to keep playing with that confidence. I don't think we've played like a team that lacked confidence.

"We've got to get one thing right before you do the other and it's finding that balance."

Murphy continued: "It's sods law that you start trying to throw men forward to score lots of goals and end up conceding so it's a difficult one. I know

that the fans are desperate to see us win games and score goals but we have to make sure we have the foundation.

"I think in recent games we've looked a lot more solid and we feel like we're reasonably tight and the back four have done well I think defensively.

"I think the fans will be happy with what they're seeing. They're seeing a team trying to pass the ball. They're seeing a team trying to do things the right way.

"You've got to remember the front two have only had about four games together so it's early days for those two. They're going to be a big, big pairing for us.

"If they stick with us, with a little bit of patience I think we'll be fine."