Tuesday 29 December 2015 23:39, UK
Stuart Gray believes Slavisa Jokanovic's experience of the Sky Bet Championship will be crucial if Fulham are to avoid another relegation battle this season following their 4-1 victory over Rotherham at Craven Cottage on Tuesday evening.
Jokanovic steered Watford to promotion last season before leaving for Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv, who he departed on Sunday following a six-month stint in order return to England.
The 47-year-old met the players prior to kick-off before watching the game from the stands, as interim head coach Gray took charge for the final time and secured the club's first victory in 10 matches.
"He met the players an hour before kick-off and he came and introduced himself and I got two minutes with him and we'll sit down tomorrow and have a chat as well," Gray said.
"I'm sure with any new manager in the stand people are always going to say it has an effect. You cannot fault the players' application and commitment they've put in. We've just been a little bit lucky in front of goal and tonight we got that luck.
"I'm looking forward to working with him and I'll learn off him and hopefully he'll learn off me. He got Watford promoted so he knows about the Championship and obviously I'll pass on my knowledge and experience of the Championship as well.
"You can get a little bit lacking in confidence but I never doubted these players.
"We know we've got goals in us but now we've got to start keeping clean sheets. If we start keeping clean sheets then we'll rocket up this league."
Cauley Woodrow netted his first goal in four months after six minutes before Farrend Rawson drew Rotherham level.
Woodrow, making his first league start of the season, then put Fulham back ahead just before half-time and turned provider for Alexander Kacaniklic 14 minutes after the break.
McCormack completed the scoring for the hosts in the 69th minute with his 15th goal of the season.
Rotherham manager Neil Redfearn wants reinforcements to help the Millers avoid the drop with just goal difference separating them from Bristol City in the drop zone.
He said: "When we got back to 1-1 I thought we were the better side and they looked a bit fragile. They concede a few goals at home and they looked like they were wobbling a bit. But we took our foot off the gas and full credit to them.
"I'm frustrated more than disappointed and if it had finished five each then it would have been about right. But they've got quality players that can hurt you.
"To be fair we've got a small squad of players and it's difficult to rotate. We've got ourselves out of the bottom three and we want to stay out of it and the lads need some help.
"There're players at other Championship clubs that could make us better. We know where we want to strengthen and we've got our targets in place."
