COACH Joe Jordan believes that three points from tomorrow's match at Fulham (1.30pm) would be a huge step to securing Portsmouth's Premiership safety.

He said: "If we show the same character and confidence from the Newcastle game we can get something from Fulham. The Newcastle game has shown that we are a good side.

"It is going to be tough. Fulham are down there with us and if we get a result that would put us above them."

Portsmouth's Dejan Stefanovic and Arjan de Zeeuw have also pointed to the Newcastle game and urged manager Velimir Zajec to use the same attacking tactics against Fulham.

Until the Newcastle game Zajec had favoured using Yakubu as a lone striker, but eight defeats in nine game prompted him to play both Yakubu and Lua Lua as twin strikers.

Zajec agreed that it was succesful: "We will play the same way, with Yakubu and LuaLua up front. We will stay with the same 4-4-2 formation we had against Newcastle."

The creditable draw Pompey earned against one of the Premiership's in orm sides signalled a new found optimism, while also ending the run of defeats which edged them nearer the relegation zone.

The points, though, would be as crucial to Fulham as they are to Pompey. Fulham boss Chris Coleman called it: "The biggest game of our season."

Fulham have also hit a slump but Coleman is positive they will strike a run of form to get the 38 points he think will guarantee Premiership status.

He says: "Palace have had a decent run, Southampton have had a decent run so it's our turn again to have a good run. We had a great run in January and got a lot of points.

"We only had two games in March - one was at home to Charlton and one away to Manchester United, so that was difficult."

Fulham midfielder Papa Bouba Diop has been ruled out of tomorrow's clash, with Coleman set to recall the USA's Brian McBride.

Portsmouth will remain unchanged.