Fulham boss Roy Hodgson insists their prime goal remains Premiership safety.

A last 32 appointment with Shakhtar Donetsk awaits in Europe while the club enter Monday's Bank Holiday round of fixtures in ninth place, five points above Sunderland.

Evidence of their growing ambition could be gleaned from their frustration at failing to dispatch Champions League-chasing Tottenham in Boxing Day's goalless draw at Craven Cottage.

Just seven days earlier they thumped champions Manchester United 3-0 and west London rivals Chelsea will face a side brimming with confidence.

But while Hodgson agrees Fulham fans should be revelling in the success, he implores them not to lose sight of the club's limitations.

"Our blank sheet of paper at the start of the season said stay up," he said. "I'm delighted with the way things are going, especially for the chairman because he's had many bad years.

"The fans are enjoying it and this is a very good moment in our history. But if we ever start thinking this is easy, we'll be heading for a fall.

"Just look at clubs like Leeds, Charlton and Norwich - who'd have thought it possible that they'd be where they are now? Our message to the fans is let's keep enjoying it but to not lose sight of why it's happening. Let's not get carried away.

"We'll never have more than 24,000 people watching our games in our wonderful old stadium. We won't have a ground like the Emirates or Old Trafford because this is who we are. We are near the maximum of what we can be, but we can stay here.

"There's no reason why we have to drop but it will be very hard to stay here."