Assistant Left To Face The Press

Last updated : 29 December 2004 By Mad Reporter
Manager Chris Coleman had kept the Fulham players locked in the dressing room after the 3-2 home defeat to City leaving Kean to answer reporters.

"It's particularly frustrating when you think how well we played against Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal in spells. And for the first 10 minutes today we did a lot of good things," the assistant boss said after the game at The Cottage.

"Then we lost confidence on the ball. The players could have made better angles for each other.

"I can understand the frustration of the fans and it's echoed by the staff and players.

"What we did last season is just a memory now. The table speaks for itself."

Meanwhile Birmingham boss Steve Bruce was obviously delighted after his side registered their 4th consecutive Premier League success and he paid particular praise to one of their goalscorers, Emile Heskey.

"I've always said that a side is only as good as its strikers. And of his type, by which I mean an old-fashioned English centre-forward, there's no one better than Emile Heskey in this country," the Birmingham manager said after the game.

"He's got the lot. He leads from the front and at times, when [Clinton] Morrison has been out, he's played up there on his own.

"The way our forwards have played has changed our season. We needed a victory to change things and that win against Villa did exactly that."