Meulensteen focused only on Fulham

Meulensteen's side came from behind to beat Norwich 2-1 courtesy of a wonderful winning goal from Scott Parker three minutes from time.

Gary Hooper's deflected effort had given the Canaries the lead but Pajtim Kasami equalised to take the teams in level at the break.

Parker then provided the heroics but even those three points left Fulham in the relegation zone after Crystal Palace and Sunderland also won on the road.

Only goal difference keeps Fulham in the bottom three and Meulensteen is keen to maintain focus on his own targets.

"You can keep looking at it and you have to in some ways, but you need to focus on your own tasks, making sure there is good quality in your work and performances are at the right level," he said.

"If you look too much over your shoulder you forget what you need to do yourself. I'm delighted with the points - very important."

Parker's 87th-minute effort settled what proved to be an even match and Meulensteen was pleased to see the former Tottenham man smash home the important winner.

"It could be a very significant goal but we can only tell when weeks and weeks go by," added the former Manchester United coach.

"I'm delighted with Scott scoring the winner because his character and leadership on the pitch has typified the sort of performances we've had over the last couple of weeks.

"The first touch set him up and - boom - he hit it straight on the trigger. It gave John Ruddy no chance."

The defeat means Norwich are just three points ahead of Fulham in the table after taking five points from their last three games heading in to the Boxing Day fixture.

Manager Chris Hughton felt the display meant his side had let their recent good work go to waste.

"We'd built a little bit of momentum. We're a bit like that. Once we make a couple of steps forward it's a step back today. It's tough at the moment. We're tested in that midfield area with the injuries we have," he said.

"We got the goal and had two other very good chances, but conceded a very poor goal just before half-time that gives them a lift.

"We got a lot of balls into the box, but they're a good side with good players. The game became a little bit open and they capitalised on that.

"It was probably a game in that second half that could have gone either way. We've made some poor decisions, we perhaps haven't created enough-clear cut chances, but it's not a question of the players not giving enough."

Source : PA

Source: PA