Fulham Head Coach Scott Parker had mixed emotions following a slender defeat to title challengers Manchester United on Wednesday night.
“I’m proud but also disappointed,” said our Head Coach. “The players are disappointed as well.
“We managed to get our nose in front tonight, but a mistake and then a 35-yard screamer from a world class player has defined the game.
“We had the first big chance of the second half and a couple of big chances after that and they need to go in the net for us, we need to take those chances.
“We haven’t managed to do that tonight; we probably haven’t managed to do that enough over the course of the last few games. It’s certainly an area where we need to get better and we will do that.”
It’s been a tough run of fixtures for Parker’s men, but our boss knows there’s been huge progress made by his team in this time.
“From the start of the season we saw where we needed to improve as a team and the players have worked relentlessly on the training field to do that,” he said. “We’ve given ourselves a platform in games and been more solid and now that box seems to have been ticked.
“We now need to look at the other side and how we can take our chances in big moments in games because I think that will be the difference for us.
“We come out of a run here of nine games from Leicester away to Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea, to a team that are going to fight for the Championship this year and went toe-to-toe with them.
"I’m very, very proud while also a little bit disappointed."
There was a slight mistake by Alphonse Areola for the Red Devils' equaliser, but Parker knows how much his 'keeper has brought to the side this campaign.
“Alphonse will be the first to hold his hands up and be disappointed with that,” admitted Parker. “But the character of the man means he comes back in the game and pulls off some big saves.
“He’s going to be vital for us this year and he’s already proven that. It was a mistake and they can happen.
“We’ll keep going, keep trying to improve and keep pushing on.”