Fulham fans in salute to Morgan

Leo Spall13 April 2012
Fulham 2 Wolverhampton 0

Fulham's Simon Morgan today thanked manager Jean Tigana for letting him be part of the club's championship-winning team and backed them to break the First Division points record.

The 34-year-old made his first appearance of the campaign last night as a substitute in the 2-0 win against Wolves after being sidelined with injuries to both knees since the end of last season.

The victory means Fulham can finish the season with a point more than the 105 Sunderland achieved to set the First Division record in 1999 if they win their remaining two fixtures against Wimbledon and Grimsby.

But Morgan was the star act last night and was cheered every time he touched the ball after receiving a standing ovation when he came on 14 minutes from the end.

His throw-ins even received roars of approval and there was a rousing send-off too for the longest-serving member of Fulham's playing staff at the final whistle.

Morgan proved how popular he is with the Craven Cottage crowd after staying loyal to the club for more than 10 years and playing for them in the bottom three divisions.

But he is unlikely to be around next season when they are playing in the Premiership as his contract runs out in the summer and Sean Davis is emerging as a top quality young player in the defensive midfield position Morgan covets.

Morgan said: "It was absolutely fantastic for me to get on and to be able to say I have been part of three promotion-winning teams.

"This team will go down in Fulham history and being part of it is something to tell the grandchildren, that is for sure.

"But that is down to the gaffer and it was a brilliant gesture for him to let me play after being injured all year.

"The way they have been playing, they have been fantastic all season. Everyone who has pulled the white shirt on has been brilliant and it has been easy to watch. It gave me more incentive to get fit.

"I am part of the furniture here, the supporters are great and they have always been good with me.

"I can pass that mantle on to Davis now and I hope they treat him as well as they have treated me. He is the boy wonder at the moment and, hopefully, he will have as good a career here as I have."

Fulham have amassed 100 points this season after easing to the win over Wolves despite missing the injured Alain Goma and Bjarne Goldbaek, Steve Finnnan and Luis Boa Morte because of international duty.

Top scorer Louis Saha was there to continue his impressive goalscoring form and took his tally for the season to 32 with a penalty conversion in each half.

Karlheinz Riedle earned both spot kicks by tempting Kevin Muscat into clumsy challenges after 22 and 69 minutes during a game which contained plenty of patient Fulham passing but lacked any real edge.

Morgan, however, was still wary of the job he had to do when he was brought on as a right-back for Wayne Collins.

He added: "I was aware of the reception I was going to get but I was just focused because I could not let these boys down.

"They have been so good all season and have a very proud defensive record. They wanted to keep a clean sheet.

"They also want to beat the record and we have to win our last two games to do it. It will be difficult but they are going to go for it.

"The drive and belief they have in themselves is phenomenal and they are determined to get the record."

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