He said: "What you have got to make sure first and foremost is getting those 40 points to stay in the league and that's my priority.

"I don't look further than the next game and that's Wigan away - it's a big game for us. Other people may have expectations but I take it as it is.

"I don't get carried away. What will be will be. Once you think you've arrived you are going to be in trouble.

"We've had a good little run - the Blackburn result, Burnley, Reading and now Fulham. They are four good wins on the spin and now we just have to keep it going.

"You can't take anything for granted, though. West Ham were relegated the year after I left even though they had (Paolo) di Canio, (Fredi) Kanoute, (Joe) Cole and (Michael) Carrick in their team. It's frightening. They were fantastic players.

"And we were talking at the training ground this morning about the time Birmingham were relegated even though we lost 5-0 at their place. They had a terrific team and murdered us that day. They still went down, though.

"I'm just looking to getting those 40 points first, nothing else, nothing at all."