Zuberbuhler: Fulham need a miracle to survive in Premier League

By Alessandro Schiavone

Pascal Zuberbuhler insists Fulham and West Bromwich are not yet doomed and can steer clear of relegation despite the odds being firmly stacked against them.

The former Swiss international earned 51 caps for his country and had a spell with West Bromwich in 2006 before a three-year stint as Fulham’s deputy goalkeeper in the twilight of his career.

After back-to-back wins West Brom have turned a corner and reignited their faint hopes of staying in the Premier League under survival specialist Sam Allardyce.

Zuberbuhler, who kept four clean sheets in four World Cup games in 2006 and is now a FIFA ambassador, thinks the Baggies’ upturn in performance was punctual like a Swiss watch.

He said: “West Bromwich is a very nice football club and it will be special to see what is going on now. They should not be written off because they can do it with Allardyce. They won their last two games and from the positions 15 down to 19, I still expect that a big change is gonna happen. Newcastle, Brighton and Burnley are not safe. There will be a big mix in the last rounds.”

Fulham were unable to lay a glove on their opponents of late with Scott Parker’s men suffering four defeats on the trot. They trail Newcastle by six points but the Magpies have a game in hand.

In the business end of the season the Cottagers will face Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United away and Zuberbuhler insists the task is anything but insurmountable.

He said: “You never know in football. If you start coming back after four defeats, then maybe you will pull off a miracle. But Fulham have to hope that Newcastle and West Brom drop points.

“Look, it will be very, very, very difficult but for me it’s not impossible. Fulham played very well even though they lost all of their last four games, which of course is not good. Newcastle winning their last game is bad news, but I really hope for them and my heart is still with Fulham.

“The Championship is fantastic but for me Fulham is a club that needs to play in the Premier League. They can do it.”