Fulham boss Scott Parker claims Charlton were playing for draw in Valley stalemate

BY RICHARD CAWLEY

Scott Parker felt his Fulham side were always going to struggle to create chances in last night’s stalemate – and claimed Charlton were always playing for the draw.

The west London side were missing Aleksandar Mitrovic, Anthony Knockaert and Aboubakar Kamara for the Championship clash at The Valley.

Parker said: “The game was probably one or two big chances. It was a 1-0 game – if you take your chance. We had two massive chances second half. You take that and you see the game out 1-0.

“We had some good control. Initially I’m a little bit disappointed but it’s a third clean sheet in a row now and if you don’t win it then you certainly don’t lose it – that’s the biggest positive.

“I’ve sat here many times this year after having a lot of control, really camping up in the opposition team’s half and we’ve come away with a defeat because they’ve hit us on the break. We looked pretty solid on that, so that’s a big positive.

“There’s no denying we’ve got a lot of front-half players missing at this moment in time. It was a game for an attacking bit of genius against a team who at times were banked up – you need something a bit off the cuff.

“Charlton, full credit to them, they are fighting for their lives and they came here and were playing for a draw from the start really. I knew this was going to be one chance and you need to be clinical and take it.

“Tonight we wasn’t, for many a reason. We looked much more solid. On another day you take one of your chances, come out of here with a 1-0 win and go again.

“If there’s one thing we’ve been shy of when we come up against teams like this – Charlton are full of heart, commitment, desire and passion – you need to match that first and foremost. If you match that you hope your talent and the way you play can pull you through the game.

“You can’t build your foundations on your talent because as we’ve seen this year when we build it on that we’ve got beat through opposition really working. I didn’t see that tonight. We matched them toe to toe in that sense.”

PICTURE BY PAUL EDWARDS