"Until we pass that magical 40-point mark we won't even contemplate that things are looking easier," Hodgson said after the game.
"If we get past that mark we can start raising our heads a little bit and hoping for the higher places in the league.
"But I'm really happy today. In a game we needed to win it was important to get that victory and the points in the bag.
"Bobby Zamora is a player who plays very, very well for the team.
"He did some very, very good things throughout the game and I suppose what really crowned the performance was the goal.
"He made the goal for Andy Johnson and was playing very well."