Coleman Hopeful Of Top Ten Finish

Last updated : 03 March 2007 By Sam
"After the excitement of last week against Manchester United this was always going to be a difficult game," the Fulham boss said after the game at Craven Cottage.

"When you go 1-0 down you worry, but we showed the right response and equalised straight away. And in the second half I thought we were going to win it. Then at the end it needed a great save from Antti Niemi to earn us the point.

"Their first goal was controversial because the referee got in the way of Alexei Smertin, but I don't blame him. I think it was just one of those things.

"The referee couldn't see what was behind him. Was it bad positioning by the ref? I don't think so. But I do think we should have got a free-kick before that in the build-up to the goal.

"It's another point for us and there are nine more games to go. We have to aim for tenth place because it is only four points away."