Scott Parker's belief that Fulham could pull off the seemingly improbable was certainly admirable. Sadly it proved misplaced.
With four games to save themselves, Fulham fell at the first hurdle, losing to Burnley, the one outcome that guaranteed that this Premier League stay would also be just one season, just like Fulham’s last.
Needing a victory to keep their paper-thin hopes alive, Fulham came up against a Burnley side who showed their greater experience, efficiently made the most of less possession, held their nerve and handled this high-stakes meeting between the sides third and fourth bottom better than Fulham.