FULHAM return to the scene of one of their greatest days in recent years when they travel to Fratton Park this week - but Aaron Hughes says it will not pay to dwell on the memory.

It is only five months since that sunny afternoon on the south coast when Danny Murphy's goal saved the Whites from relegation.

That should stir up some strong emotions among the players who were involved in that 1-0 win.

But Hughes, one of the heroes that day, believes Fulham cannot afford to get too misty-eyed on Sunday.

"That will stick out probably as one of the high points of most of the lads' careers," Hughes told the Gazette.

"Going down there on the last day, needing the win and getting it to stay up.

"But that was last year and it's gone now, it's a different day altogether.

"I don't think we should dwell on it too much. Yes we've got happy memories, but players always have favourite grounds here and there.

"As far as we are concerned it's just another game that we need to win.

"Everyone will have good memories of the game last season and we'll go there full of confidence. But that will come from today," Hughes said of Saturday's fortunate draw with Sunderland, which ended a run of three successive defeats.

Sunderland had a goal chalked off for an infringement at a free-kick and Kieran Richardson could not believe it when his curling effort at another set-piece freakishly bounced across the goalline after striking the post three times.

"It was important not to get beat and put in a good performance which we did," Hughes said. "We're going to carry that on and a one nil again this year would be good.

"The fans helped massively in that game at the end of last season. We put a good performance on for them and if we can do that again, it would be great."

Fulham go into the game troubled by the loss of earlyseason momentum and a sudden goal shyness.

Only one strike in five games - a penalty from Danny Murphy in a losing cause against West Ham - tells its own story.

They will be seeking a first away point after three successive defeats. They also lost a fourth game at Burnley in the Carling Cup.

Hughes said: "We don't want to be where we were last year. We said that at the start of the season, we want a more comfortable season at least.

"Every one says it, but certainly it's true. Every year the league gets harder and this year you look around and you can't put your finger on any one game you can say you can go and definitely get something there.

"Every game poses a threat, whether they're at home or away, and we've got to keep working hard, doing what we're doing.

"I see belief in what we're doing and I think the back end of last season highlighted the work we did in training. We really saw the benefits in the last five or six games where we got the wins and the confidence was up.

"We just need to get back to doing that again this year and believe in ourselves, and each other, and go on and get something from the games.

"We've got to be happy not conceding anything and not losing the game [against Sunderland], but we're a little bit disappointed we didn't win it," he said.

"We did OK today but maybe didn't knock it around as well as we have previously."

"And we got a bit of luck today that I think maybe we haven't had in previous games. At the same time we could have sneaked something ourselves so we're certainly happy to not get beaten."

On that away form, which is again an unwanted theme of the season, Hughes added: "I don't think the travelling is an excuse for our poor away form, you get used to it. It doesn't make any difference, I don't think it's a massive factor.

"I've played now for 10 or 11 years and every other week I've played away, so I'd never put it down to that.

"In the Premier League it's always hard to go away and win games.

"For a team to go away to another club and get a result it's a pretty good day for them so it's always hard and maybe we haven't been getting the rub of the green in certain aspects, although I thought we played reasonably well over the last few weeks.

"To go away from home and win the game, you've got to play well and maybe try and quieten the home crowd.

"I think we have done that but just haven't got the win we need. If we can keep playing the way we're playing it will come."

Match Summary FULHAM(0) 0 SUNDERLAND(0) 0 Line-up: Schwarzer; Pantsil, Hughes, Hangeland, Konchesky; Davies, Murphy, Bullard, Gera (Dempsey 73); Johnson, Zamora. Subs not used: Zuberbühler, Baird, Kallio, Andreasen, Gray, Nevland. Att: 25,116

MoM: Brede Hangeland  Next Up

PORTSMOUTH

Fratton Park Sunday 5pm Premier League

Manager: Harry Redknapp Position last season: 8th Form Guide: Pompey are undefeated in four after a 0-0 draw at Villa last week and the horror of a 6-0 defeat at Man City has been offset by a Uefa Cup adventure which continued with a trip to Braga this week and includes a home game with AC Milan next month. They have won three at home against Middlesbrough (2-1), Spurs (2-0) and Stoke (2-1) with a solitary defeat by Man U (0-1). Players to look out for: Much will depend on Fulham's ability to contain Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch, who are starting to combine well up front.

Most recent meetings: Portsmouth 0-1 Fulham (11 May 2008); Fulham 0-2 Portsmouth (7 Oct 2007) - PL.

Head-to-head record: PFC Wins: 23 FFC Wins: 11 Draws: 17

Match Facts: Last season's timely win on the final day of the season - which kept the Whites up - was the first in six meetings between the clubs. But Fulham have only lost twice in their last 11 visits to Fratton Park.

Forecast: The Whites are due an away point but Pompey are starting to hit form and look likely to edge this one.

Gazetteforecast success rate: 4 correct out of 9 (44%)

In Midweek

WIGAN ATH

Craven Cottage Wednesday 7.45pm Premier League

Manager: Steve Bruce Position last season: 14th Form Guide: Wigan have won only twice in eight league games so far, but that record masks some good performances. They thrashed Hull 5-0 away and beat Man City at home 2-1, while they were unlucky to lose 3-2 at Liverpool last Saturday. They were beaten 2-1 at West Ham on the opening day but drew 0-0 at Spurs in their other London visit this season. They are at home to Villa tomorrow. Players to look out for: Egyptian Amir Zaki - on loan from Zamalek - has begun the season in superb form and his two goals at Anfield last Saturday took him clear in the Premier league scoring chart.

Most recent meetings: Fulham 1-1 Wigan (22 Dec 2007); Wigan 1-1 Fulham (15 Sep 2007) - PL. Head-to-head record: FFC Wins: 12 WA Wins: 10 Draws: 10

Match Facts: This must rank as one of the most boring fixtures in the Premier League with only six goals coming in the six encounters since the Latics gained promotion. The Whites have won only one of those games (1-0 in 2006). Wigan reversed that score two years ago.

Forecast: Fulham will be desperate for a win if they have no joy at Pompey and that could just give them the extra motivation to scrape only their third win of the season.