Fulham boss Scott Parker makes concession after stalemate at Brighton

BY RICHARD CAWLEY

Scott Parker admitted his Fulham side were not at their best in Wednesday night’s 0-0 draw at Brighton.

The Whites absorbed heavy pressure on the South Coast with only some poor finishing and excellent saves by Alphonse Areola keeping the contest scoreless.

Lewis Dunk did make a late goal-line clearance to deny Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

The result ensured Brighton maintained a five-point lead over the Whites, who do have a match in hand.

Next up for Parker’s men is a trip to West Bromwich Albion, just below them in the drop zone, tomorrow. It’s a huge opportunity to turn up the heat on the clubs above them.

Parker said: “We missed elements of our game [at Brighton]. In the first half we got a control about us and a foothold in the game – but for duels and battles we were second best in a lot of them.

“I tried to address that at half-time. We were more resilient in the second half but probably lost that other side, we couldn’t really get a foothold on the ball.

“We had to defend an awful amount in the second half – it was an onslaught at times. Am I fully happy with the performance? No, I’m not. But you come to a tough place like this, we get a clean sheet and a point – we’re as satisfied as we can be.”

Fulham have taken six points from their last eight matches.

Parker said: “We’re halfway through, 19 games left. There’s a lot of football to still be played.

“I understand the importance of these games – you can’t lose. We gave ourselves a chance to win the game at the end. Would it have been a bit of a snatch and grab? Maybe, but if you defend like we did second half then you give yourself a chance.

“Every game is going to be big for us now on.”