But Hodgson thinks the old adage that there are no
easy games in international football - other than perhaps against San Marino - has been proven recently.
The Wanderers' manager insists there is no such thing as an
easy game and never has been in his career at the helm at Molineux or elsewhere in his role as manager.
Martin Brassil's progressive gelding won Cheltenham's Ballymore Novice Hurdle emphatically and will be expected to follow-up as he renews rivalry with Sams Profile (fifth),
Easy Game (eighth) and Gordon Elliott's Battleoverdoyen, favourite when pulled up in the Cheltenham race.
1.30 (G1) (1) 2m 5f Winner PS70,338 (16 run) ITV BALLYMORE NOVICES' HURDLE NEWSBOY'S 1-2-3 1 BREWIN'UPASTORM 2 CHAMP 3
EASY GAME BREWIN'UPASTORM has each-way claims - at the very least.
"It was clear from the first moment when we knew who we could face that there would be no
easy game. It's Hoffenheim and that's for sure not an
easy game.
'It was not an
easy game. Before the game, we knew they had good defense and they played really good defense today against us,' he said.
"There were no
easy games in this round so there was no chance for an
easy game.
They've started well, with my old team-mate Roy Keane on the coaching staff now, so it won't be an
easy game by any means.
"I told them if they wanted an
easy game, they could have an
easy game but in the first half the game did not go how we wanted.
"People might think Fulham will be an
easy game but there are no
easy games - every game is a final for us.
WALES have been warned not to expect an
easy game in Rome on Saturday despite Italy having suffered the "massive" blow of losing their skipper Sergio Parisse.
McLeish said Blues have not had one
easy game this season.
"People say England will have an
easy game against us but you just wait and see."
Chelsea leads Manchester United by a point ahead of the so-called '
easy game' in hand against the Trotters at Stamford Bridge.
We have to work hard together, players and supporters, because sometimes when it's not an
easy game we need the fans."