Fulham boss Chris Coleman admitted his side deserved to finish empty-handed but refused to criticise his players too heavily.

He said: "If we had come with away anything we would have been lucky. Wigan bossed it in the first half.

"We huffed and puffed a bit in the second but they had the better chances and played the better football.

"We were disappointed with the way we defended. I can't get stuck into the players because they've been superb all season. We have to put it behind us and concentrate on Everton.

"I'm not taking anything away from Wigan because they're a good team. I think they're better this year than last."

Wigan boss Paul Jewell claimed it would have been a "crime" had his side left Craven Cottage without all three points.

Henri Camara scored the only goal in the 83rd minute to clinch the Latics' first away win of the season but they made hard work of it after missing a series of chances.

Denny Landzaat was the biggest culprit after blasting a 75th-minute penalty at the crossbar and Jewell felt the victory should have been far more emphatic.

He said: "We played very well and the score doesn't do us justice. I wasn't very happy at half-time because I thought we should have been out of sight with the situations we had.

"I thought it would be like last year when we dominated the game for long periods but came away with nothing. We need to be more ruthless in front of goal.

"It would have been a crime if we hadn't won today - that was our best performance of the season. We played some good football, created some good opportunities and had a desire about us not to concede.

"Our away form was good last year and we got a monkey off our back today."

Jewell hailed Camara's finish and predicts he will forge a deadly partnership with Emile Heskey, who limped off with a thigh injury which should not prevent him starting against Bolton next weekend.

He said: "Camara is a menace. He has unbelievable pace. Camara and Heskey are a decent pair.

"But we have to improve our goal-scoring because we didn't score enough last season. Our front two of Camara and Heskey must be looking to get 10 or 15 each.

"If they both hit double figures we'll be OK. But the most pleasing aspect from today was not our finishing but the chances we created because we looked pacy and good on the break."

Wigan were awarded the penalty when Zat Knight handled a Camara shot close to the line but referee Graham Poll only gave the Fulham skipper a yellow card.

Jewell said: "I don't want anyone sent off because a penalty is enough. But the rules said it should have been a red card.

"Graham must have thought there was someone behind Knight. If there was he must have been in the back of the stands. I'd like to see it again."