Roy Hodgson reckons it is graft more than flair that is the key to his successful term as Fulham boss.

With a top-seven finish and a Europa League place in the bag after his first year at the helm at Craven Cottage, the Londoners have followed that up with another encouraging campaign.

And, after easing into a home FA Cup quarter-final against either Bolton or Tottenham following their 4-0 defeat of Notts County on Sunday, Hodgson insists it is all down to pure workrate.

He said: “With Fulham there is a long association with flair but that is just not possible nowadays.

“We have to be more workmanlike in our approach because staying in the Premier League is so important.

“It is wrong to compare us to the mythical teams of the 60s and 70s or even the showbiz teams of George Best, Rodney Marsh and Bobby Moore.

“Back then it was a case of Best doing a few tricks and then having a rest for five minutes but is just not possible now.”

Simon Davies, Bobby Zamora, Damien Duff and Stefano Okaka were on target as the Cottagers eased past League Two County.

And with Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United having bitten the dust, Hodgson has eyes on a glory run.

He added: “We think we have as good a chance as anybody else.

“The FA Cup means a lot to us and it would be a major step forward for the progression of the club.

“Notts County were a real banana skin and I am just glad we did not slip up on it.

“I wasn’t wrong to suggest they would give us a decent game.

“But now we move on and we will be highly motivated for the quarter-final - whoever we come up against.”

Fulham’s next three matches: Feb 18 Shaktar Donetsk (EL, h), 21 Birmingham City (a), 25 Shaktar Donetsk (EL, a)