Wanderers could not have a tougher test of their character as they bid to bounce back from last week's derby drubbing - or could they?

Fulham away looks a daunting challenge but, for a team that boasts a better record on the road than on their own patch, Craven Cottage holds no fears.

"It's good to have a game like this," Per Frandsen explained before they set off in search of their 11th away victory of the season. "We are playing better away from home than we have been doing at home.

"And, anyway, every time we have lost a game this season, we have bounced back. Hopefully we can do that again."

The 4-1 defeat by Blackburn hurt no-one more than former Rovers' hero Colin Hendry but the Scotland defender remains confident that, still holding a respectable lead over their nearest rivals in the promotion race, Wanderers are well-placed.

"We're the underdogs in this game," he admits, "but it's been away from home where we've been doing quite well.

"And if we are going through a dodgy period, the same applies to Fulham. We are still in a good position."

The Reebok has offered Wanderers few home comforts of late hence, given the choice, Sam Allardyce reckons he would prefer Fulham away to, for argument's sake, QPR at home to test the mettle of his men.

And he's quietly confident they can bounce back, as they have so often this season, most noteably after losing successive games at Stockport and Watford - the only occasion when they have lost two in a row. As a consequence they sank to their lowest league placing, sixth, but responded with a run that saw them surge to second within a matter of just eight games - a position they have held since December 9.

"The players know it themselves ..." the manager suggests in praise of the character of his squad. "Last time we were in this position was when we lost at home to West Brom - an undeserved defeat - and we went on a great run after that. But the crucial time was when we had the two defeats in a row.

"The way we got defeated at Stockport was cruel but was all of our own doing. But then we go away to Watford on the Tuesday night and get the cruellest of blows by the referee doing us in the last minute - giving them a penalty that wasn't a penalty then going up the other end where exactly the same thing happens and he doesn't give a penalty to us!

"They were cruel blows but we got over them."