Fulham assistant manager Christian Damiano claimed his side could have dished
out a thrashing if they had enjoyed better luck in front of goal.
He said: "It was a difficult start and an unfortunate goal. But we reacted
well - and then in the second half we were strong and could have scored more.
"We were delighted with the strikers. We had chances as soon as Louis came
on. He was important - and Marlet is back after a long injury and in good form.
"He has a good heading ability and has progressed very well in each game
since his return.
"We were unlucky to miss some good chances - and we also had another big
difficulty with the pitch. It was hard to put speed into the game."
Middlesbrough manager Steve McClaren shrugged off worries over his side's impending
four-month battle to save their top-flight status.
Boro created precious few chances and tumbled to a deserved 2-1 defeat leaving
themselves just a point above basement trio Leicester, Derby and Ipswich.
The Alen Boksic-less Teessiders were desperately short of attacking invention
at Craven Cottage - and they will need the Croatian striker to be firing on
all cylinders when he makes his comeback from a calf strain.
McClaren took heart from his team's battling second-half showing.
"We never really looked like conceding a goal in the first half, apart
from those five minutes of madness just before half-time," he said.
"We lost concentration and gave a silly free-kick away. We should have
closed the game down just before the break - and but for that I think we would
have got something this afternoon.
"In the second half I couldn't ask any more of the players. We blocked
balls on the line and defended magnificently. You can't ask any more of players
than that.
"Their attitude, determination and quality were excellent and they are
very disappointed not to come away with anything. That's a platform - and if
the players work that hard and perform with the same application as they did
today results will follow.
"Five of our last six games have been away - and they were very, very tough.
Now we've got a period of home games coming up - and we've got to be winning at
home."
Source Sporting Life