Fulham manager Chris Coleman admitted his side were second best but was happy to take the three points which lifted the Cottagers further away from the relegation zone.

"West Brom were better than us. They should have beaten us," he said.

"But I don't mind us being a bit lucky to win. We'll take that. I don't know what to say to Robbo, though. He's devastated.

"Our quality of play was poor and I didn't expect us to get a goal from a set-piece because we rarely do, but we are having a good little spell and if we beat Birmingham next week we might be able to start thinking about climbing the table.

"At least we stuck out to the end. That's what got us through and it was well worked from the corner."

Coleman confirmed his interest in signing Manchester City's London-born defender Ben Thatcher, who is unsettled in the north-west, and said: "We could fix up something next week. We've spoken to Kevin Keegan and the player's agent."

But Coleman said he was determined to keep all his top players during the transfer window.

Boa Morte last week signed a new deal which will keep him at the club until 2008 while goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar is expected to agree a new contract this week.

Another transfer target for Premiership clubs, Frenchman Steed Malbranque, twisted an ankle against Albion and looks certain to miss Wednesday's FA Cup replay at home to Watford.

West Brom boss Bryan Robson screamed injustice after his West Brom side were undone by a stoppage-time winner from Fulham's Papa Bouba Diop at Craven Cottage.

The Baggies looked to have held on for a point until the Senegal international's header seconds from the final whistle ensured the visitors' dismal Premiership run extended to 15 matches without victory.

"It was an injustice," said former England captain Robson, who has yet to win in his 11 Premiership matches in charge at the club he used to play for.

"We had good chances and missed them didn't have a referee who helped us when we had reasonable appeals for two penalties.

"One was a good shout and the foul on Kevin Campbell in the second half was a certainty.

"I don't think it, I know it. I have seen three TV replays and we were robbed because it was a definite pen.

"The overall performance was good, which is encouraging, and if we go on playing like that we'll win more than we lose."

Robson brought in Campbell on a free transfer from Everton last week and said of his new signing: "I was pleased with his link-up with Robert Earnshaw."

However, the unhappy former Manchester United midfielder was annoyed his side could not make the most of their opportunities.

"That's what happens if you don't take your chances. The Premier League teams will punish you," he said.

"We went slack in the last minute and paid for it. I just feel that maybe that slackness would not have been there if we had got a goal. - something to hang on to."

Robson revealed midfielder Andy Johnson has damaged knee ligaments after being carried off on a stretcher following a tackle by Luis Boa Morte.