Coleman ready to trust his team at last

Chris Coleman said today he now has total faith in his players to continue their improvement.

The Fulham manager has been brutally honest about his players' lack of commitment, desire and application at various stages this season.

But following a seven-match unbeaten run that has propelled Fulham from relegation candidates to a position of mid-table safety, Coleman finally feels able to trust the team that left him so exasperated earlier in the campaign.

"The last seven games I can't fault the guys, they have been tremendous and I now know that they are not going to turn up and collapse like a house of cards," said the Fulham manager, ahead of tonight's clash with Aston Villa at Craven Cottage.

"Before, we could turn up and be absolutely shocking or we could turn up and be fantastic.

"We were getting bad results and losing two or three on the bounce, and that happened more than once, so we needed to show a bit more resolve.

"Thankfully since the turn of the year, that's what we have done - I think I can trust them now."

Victory over Villa would put Fulham level on points with David O'Leary's side, and Coleman admits that finishing in the top half of the Premiership is now a realistic aim.

He said: "The first half of the season hasn't been great, what with the inconsistency, injuries, sendings off - it was bloody hard work to be honest with you.