Fulham boss Roy Hodgson insists he has great respect for former club Blackburn Rovers.

Hodgson suffered the only dismissal in his career at Rovers.

He was the manager of the northern club for just over a season at the back-end of the 1990s and knows all about the mentality of the Ewood Park club.

"I have a lot of respect for them and the people at the club. They have done fantastically well," Hodgson said.

"Like ourselves, they are a team who have to work really hard every year to keep up its level and make sure their Premiership status is secure.

"They have done exceptionally well over the last 10 years, as we have. It's one of those like-versus-like battles and it's important we play well and get a result.

"Their results have been good for them. They have leapfrogged us in the table and we know what qualities they have, and what they are capable of doing."