Roy Hodgson accepts that Fulham will continue to be targeted by promoted clubs despite last season's success. During that campaign, Fulham surpassed all expectations to clinch seventh in the Barclays Premier League - their best top flight finish - and qualify for Europe. They face Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux on Sunday and Hodgson knows the Coca-Cola Championship winners will have little respect for their recent achievements.

"I'm afraid that at Fulham we have to live with the fact that teams look at us and expect to get three points," said Hodgson. "When we go to places, there aren't many teams who say 'Oh my God, it's Fulham, there's nothing in this for us'.

"Everywhere we go this year, whether it be Wolves or Arsenal, West Ham or Liverpool, the team we're playing are going to say 'Right, this week it's Fulham. This is a team we should be beating, this is a team we're going to win against'.

"We've got to make sure it doesn't happen. It doesn't annoy me, why should it? It will be nice one day if people are scared of us and are worried about getting points, but we're way off from that," he said.

"We might need to build a 60,000 stadium on the banks of the river first. Trees don't grow to heaven."

Last season's heroics meant there was no repeat of the battle against relegation that descends on Craven Cottage most years, but Hodgson insists beating the drop still remains the main objective.

It will be nice one day if people are scared of us and are worried about getting points, but we're way off from that.

Fulham manager Roy Hodgson

"We had a great season last season, but we're starting from scratch again," he said. "We're the same Fulham this season which started last season with one ambition: to get to the end of the season in the Premier League and survive without giving our supporters a heart attack.

"We've dismissed everything from last season. Our ambition is to stay in the league and the game against Wolves is of vital importance."

Hodgson will revert to his first choice line-up tomorrow after making nine changes for Thursday night's 1-1 Europa League draw with CSKA Sofia. Fulham's second string coped admirably with the Bulgarian league leaders and Hodgson believes sceptics will have been persuaded that his squad has depth.

"I've always got a selection poser, but what that performance has done is prove to everyone that I've got a selection poser," he said. "It's quite easy to be dismissive of people who aren't getting a look-in and focus only on the 11 that I pick. But everyone has seen my faith is justified."