Europa League:Roy Hodgson has claimed it would be "downright foolish" for Fulham to believe their place in next month's Europa League final has already been secured.
Despite spending 17 hours on a bus to get to Hamburg, the Cottagers fought a defiant rearguard action to claim a 0-0 draw in the first leg of their semi-final clash at the Nordbank Arena.
It means a victory of any kind on home soil next week will be enough to take Fulham into the first European final in their history.
Yet despite the positive nature of the tie, Hodgson is remaining firmly entrenched in the reality of the situation.
"It would be worse than dangerous, it would be downright foolish," said Hodgson of the prospect of thinking victory had already been achieved.
"We are at half-time, and we have to play another 90 minute half.
"Not many people leave stadiums at half-time, or go for a cup of tea thinking the game has been won.
"There is a lot of football to be played and Hamburg are a very good team. If they score a goal next week the advantage passes to them.
"The tie is open but I am delighted about that because it is very easy to put yourself out of contention."
Cottagers striker Bobby Zamora is facing a race against time to be fit for the next leg after the striker aggravated a long-standing Achilles problem during the opening stages of last night's draw.
Zamora is definitely out of Sunday's Barclays Premier League encounter with Everton, but be available for Hamburg's visit to London.
"Bobby has had this problem with his Achilles for some while," revealed Hodgson. "He has missed one or two league games but he felt okay yesterday and we hope he would get through the game.
"But even in the first half he was struggling with it. The medical staff gave him the all-clear to start the second half but they warned me I might have to take him off.
"We have one week to deal with the problem. It is not a fresh injury so we hope a week gives us the chance to put it right because I would say he has no chance of being fit for Sunday."