Sometimes it pays to be a manager and Alan Curbishley has some straightforward advice for Fulham if they want to repeat West Ham United’s dramatic escape from relegation last season: begin a run of victories, starting tomorrow when the teams meet at Craven Cottage.

West Ham were five points from safety at the same stage of the last campaign, but ended the season by climbing from ten points adrift, as they were with nine games left, to exit the relegation zone after the penultimate match. Similarities extend to both clubs; changing managers in mid-season and spending relatively heavily in the January transfer window.

“We know what they are going through,” Curbishley said. “We went through a similar thing last season. We know what they are up against. [My advice is] win another six games – that is what you have to do. You can get out of the relegation zone with a good result but then drop back in again in the next game. You need a run.”

Curbishley has been bitterly disappointed by his team picking up just one point from each of Wigan Athletic and Birmingham City in the past two matches, but maybe not as irritated as some fans who booed at the final whistle. They expect a brand of attacking football synonymous with their tradition, and the team has not scored more than once in each of the past five matches.

Even Curbishley has admitted that Dean Ashton and Carlton Cole have perhaps not been compatible as a strike force because they tend to occupy the same positions on he pitch. “We fizzled out against Birmingham, we were poor,” he said. “My big complaint after the game was that with 25 minutes to go, a bit of panic set in and it was one touch and bang. I was disappointed with it. The back five have done great. One of the things that we spoke about this week is that the mid-field and forwards need to start contributing.”