Fulham Coach Slavisa Jokanovic believes Fulham deserved to take three points from Friday’s tense meeting with Queens Park Rangers.
Conor Washington halved the Whites’ 2-0 lead in the second of nine minutes added on at the end, but Jokanovic’s men held firm to take the bragging rights.
“I’m always happy, especially when we win a West London derby,” he stated. “I am happy for the supporters, too. I believe we deserved it.
“At the end we suffered when QPR were in our territory and they started to push us in the box with many players. I must be satisfied because we survived this complicated moment. We suffered after their goal but fortunately we defended well and won the game.”
Fulham have hit form ahead of the international break, taking seven points this week, but Jokanovic – who confirmed Sheyi Ojo has gone to hospital with a suspected dislocated shoulder – believes his side can only improve.
“We are a completely new team,” he explained. “Tonight was 50 per cent of the players from last season. We believe when we start working all together and push each other that all the players can be better than they actually are right now.
“We need to compete in training to be ready to compete during the competition. We are going to push each other to try and be successful.”
Just before Stefan Johansen scored the Whites’ second goal, Rui Fonte sent a penalty over the bar, giving fans a chilling sense of déjà vu from last term.
“It’s only one penalty that we missed this season,” Jokanovic said. “It’s the first time we shoot and the first time we missed.
“I cannot explain it. I ordered that Rui take it in this situation. I expect we’ll be successful next time. He can take another one.”