Fulham 1
Portsmouth 0

Goal hero Jonathan Greening today insisted Fulham can steer clear of a Premier League relegation battle, despite the side being decimated by injuries.

Greening found the net for the first time in 21 appearances for Fulham to give a makeshift line-up a 1-0 victory over bottom club Portsmouth at Craven Cottage last night.

He then admitted concern had been growing after a run of five league defeats.

The 31-year-old loan signing from West Brom said: “You start worrying when you lose two games on the spin. When you lose five games in a row, of course it knocks your confidence.

“We're missing some big players to injuries and we're down to the bare bones with a lot of us playing out of position.

“But if you asked the gaffer, he'd say he's got an honest bunch of boys and we'll always give it our all. The games are coming thick and fast but I'd like to think we've got a big enough squad with enough quality and team spirit to cope with it.”

A first league win since beating Manchester United in mid-December lifts Roy Hodgson's team to 10th in the table and they will be looking to consolidate that position at Bolton on Saturday, even though Greening, for one, may again be asked to play an unaccustomed role.

He said: “Against Portsmouth I had to fill in on the left wing, where I've not played in five or six years. The gaffer knows the centre of midfield is my favourite position but I'm willing to do a job anywhere.”

Greening lurked unmarked on the left side of Portsmouth's penalty area in the 75th minute, when the busy Damien Duff robbed hesitant Nadir Belhadj of the ball before firing a low cross which his grateful team-mate steered home.

Fulham just about deserved their first goal in four league games, although Portsmouth, for all their problems off the field, were easily the better team during a first half in which the notion of trying to retain possession appeared alien to the home side.

Fulham's cause was not helped on the half hour, when Italy Under-21 striker Stefano Okaka, making his debut after signing on loan from Roma on Monday, missed the easiest of headers from two yards out.

Both Greening and Hodgson leapt to the defence of the hulking youngster, drafted in sooner than might have been deemed appropriate because of a dire lack of attacking strength.

Greening, was also full of praise for another debutant, Nicky Shorey, who slotted in well at left-back. He said: “Stefano was unlucky with the header. Other than that he did very well.

“He doesn't speak much English and it was obviously difficult for him coming to a new country and only training with us for one day. The more he plays, the better he will become.”

Hodgson said: “Stefano was devastated by the miss. But I told him not to worry about it and just enjoy the victory.

“It's going to take lots of training sessions and lots of work but I'm sure that he'll turn out to be a useful signing for us.”

Fulham supporters will be relieved following confirmation from Hodgson that Andy Johnson will undergo knee surgery later today.

Hodgson fears for the immediate future of his former England striker, saying: “There is a risk that he will be out for the rest of the season.

“I'm disappointed in that. Now I may be looking at the rest of the season with a limited and inexperienced group of front players.”