Fulham boss Chris Coleman Fulham manager Chris Coleman was delighted to have "stopped the rot" - but admitted his disappointment at not going on to secure victory.

"Before the game, I am thinking a point is great because it stops that run of three defeats, so on one side of it we have done well, but we could have come away with three points," said the Welshman, who lost defensive midfielder Phillippe Christanval to a hamstring problem after 35 minutes.

Charlton had the better of the opening exchanges against Fulham, with Dennis Rommedahl smashing the base of the post.

However, Fulham - who had started the night in the relegation zone - grew in confidence and took the lead with a fine strike after 28 minutes from Collins John on his 20th birthday.

The Addicks rallied after the break, and were on level terms just two minutes after the restart through Danny Murphy.

Neither side, though, were able to conjure up a winner, with Fulham skipper Luis Boa Morte slicing a close-range chance wide in stoppage time.

Coleman added: "We just need that ball to bounce for us in the box, or to come off somebody's backside just to get another three points.

"I genuinely believe we should be higher on performances, but it is not about performances, it is about getting results."

Zat Knight was once again left out of the Fulham squad, but Coleman insisted it was for nothing other than tactical reasons.

The centre-back had been dropped after he broke a midweek curfew in the build-up to the 3-2 defeat by Manchester United. But Fulham now consider the matter closed.

"I just didn't want to change the squad," Coleman insisted. "Zat has just got to wait his chance now."

The Addicks missed the chance to climb back up into second place after coming from behind to draw 1-1 with Fulham at The Valley.

However, an impressive haul of 16 points from their opening eight games still leaves them flying high in fifth place - and with a match in hand on many of their rivals.

Curbishley knows there is plenty of work ahead if his side are to stay in the top six come the end of the season.

"The secret is out a bit," the Charlton manager reflected. "People have looked at us and said 'we have got to do this, stop that and work ever so hard'.

"It is up to us, when that happens, to have a 'Plan B'."

The Charlton boss added: "I take the point, because it has been a good start for us, but it is a long season."

Curbishley felt his side's passing had not been up to the standards set earlier in the season.

"After they scored, we panicked a little bit, and we looked like we were trying hit million-dollar balls, and we never really got going," said the Charlton manager.

"It was set up for us to go second and show people what we are about, but it didn't quite work."