The pendulum has swung the other way in the battle to nail down a Fulham central defensive berth.

Boss Kit Symons declared himself satisfied with Dan Burn’s showing in the last two matches against Charlton and Wigan that fetched a precious two points closer to Championship safety.

Shaun Hutchinson started the season in the centre; lost it to his fellow Geordie, only to regain it after Burn and the Whites defence were caned 5-0 at home to Watford in December.

Hutchinson was forced out of the team by a red card in bizarre circumstances against Huddersfield at the end of March when Cauley Woodrow was mistakenly dismissed only for the defender to finally get his marching orders for handball.

It allowed Burn to win back a place, and he looks set to keep it against Rotherham tomorrow night as Fulham hope to expunge any last relegation fears.

They will shut the door on Wigan if the Latics are beaten by Millwall, and it would need a miraculous run of form from the Lions to overhaul the Whites even if they do win.

Symons said: “I was pleased with Dan. He acquitted himself really well as I expected him to do so. He was disappointed to come out of the starting line-up, but what he is, is a fantastic professional, and made sure when he got the chance he took it.

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"Michael Turner has done really well here on loan. Hutchy played well alongside him, and Dan did well against Charlton.

“I’ve always said the more competition for places, the better.”

Symons was booed by sections of the crowd for substituting both of his strikers against Wigan on Friday night, and admitted he will start to plan for next season the second the club is mathematically certain of staying up - that and catching up on a good night’s rest.

He added: “I’ll be sleeping a lot better for sure, and we have a plan in place. There’s a lot of work to be done.”

Keep up to date with all the build-up, matchday and post-game reaction to Fulham v Rotherham right here on GetWestLondon