Mark Hughes is hopeful Fulham's 3-0 win over West Bromwich Albion will "settle everybody down" at the club.

The Fulham manager has been under increased pressure since the Cottagers dropped into the relegation zone after defeat by West Ham on Boxing Day.

But six points in the last three games have moved them out of the bottom three and transformed the mood at the club.

Hughes said: "The win settles everybody down. Things haven't run for us... but hopefully things are changing."

Victory over West Brom moved Fulham onto the same points as the Baggies and into 13th place in the Premier League - emphasising the tight nature of the table this year, where the bottom eight sides are separated by just four points.

606: DEBATE Great win for the team, really solid performance, albeit against a below par West Brom. frogman27

And Hughes insisted his side could well have been much higher up the league.

"We've been disappointed as we feel performances have merited more points," explained Hughes.

"Draws will give you some comfort in terms of how you perform but that doesn't move you up the league - three points and wins do.

"They have unfortunately been lacking in recent weeks. We have addressed that somewhat.

"But we've started climbing up the table, we've got three points, a clean sheet and a lot of positives so we are delighted."

Scott Carson failed to deal with Simon Davies' 30-yard strike just before the interval while Clint Dempsey and Brede Hangeland both scored with headers as Fulham took advantage of an injury-depleted Baggies' defence.

"We knew if we got set plays and corners and put it in the right areas that Brede Hangeland was a good weapon for us. He probably feels he could have had a hat-trick," said Hughes.

And West Brom boss Roberto di Matteo conceded that lack of defensive cover provided costly.

"We knew we were up against a big side and we are missing five centre-halves and we don't quite have the resources to put an 11 out that could handle Fulham tonight," said Di Matteo.

"They were bigger than us and they took advantage of it.

"We have been OK on corners and set-pieces but in the last three games we have conceded and that is creeping in a bit."

Carson's mistake set Fulham on the road to victory after the England goalkeeper got both hands to Davies' strike but could only deflect it into his own net.

"Scott is disappointed. He probably could have done better. He knows that. He is big enough to know that," said Di Matteo.

"Everybody's mood is a little bit down at the moment. We have had a bad run. We are a little bit down but we have to keep going, we have to pick ourselves up.

"There are a lot of clubs fighting relegation. As a newly promoted club we knew we'd be in for a tough season. We are trying to give ourselves the best chance."

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