Manchester City boss Mark Hughes pointed the finger of blame at
his defenders after Fulham stormed back to snatch a point at
Eastlands. Hughes said: ''We were 2-0 to the good and we should
have seen the game out but unfortunately we allowed them back in
the game and given them a lift.
''Then it was how we dealt with balls into the box and a
guy in Dempsey who is acknowledged as good in the air - and we
haven't dealt with it. We've been caught out a couple of times this
season and it seems to be prevalent this year, not just with us but
with quite a few of the teams around us. We started really well in
terms of our defensive work but we have conceded goals and we are
working hard on that. There are always elements of our game we need
to focus on.''
Meanwhile Hughes paid tribute to Fulham for a second impressive
performance at Eastlands this season following City's extra-time
win in the Carling Cup in September. Hughes added: ''Credit to them
because probably the two games we've had the most difficulty with
this season here have been against Fulham. They get organised and
make it difficult.''
Fulham boss Hodgson was full of praise for striker Bobby Zamora
despite a glaring 47th minute miss the manager described as
''horrific''. Hodgson said: ''It was an horrific miss and it was a
pity because he played so well.
''Unfortunately people who watch on the TV will see the miss and
they won't see the 96 minutes and 45 seconds in which he was
absolutely magnificent. Really it should have been seen as the
crowning moment of a great performance but instead it is going to
be seen as a glaring miss and a blot on his copybook which is sad
for him. But if you want a good example of the character and
resilience of this team and its' ability to bounce back, Bobby's
performance in the last 30 minutes shows that.''
Hodgson said he thought a draw was a fair result but had issues
with the set-piece that led to City's opening goal after the
referee over-ruled the linesman to award a corner. Hodgson said:
''I'm aggrieved by the corner kick. It was a clear offside which
was seen by the linesman then over-ruled and that has cost us a
goal.''
Arsene Wenger lamented the way Arsenal failed to hold off the
late challenge of a battling West Ham side after letting their lead
slip and accepted it was a ''major missed opportunity''.
The Arsenal manager said: ''We were in control, but as
long as you do not score the third goal, you know the game is not
won. In fairness, West Ham continued to fight until the last minute
and we conceded from two set pieces, which were generous ones. I do
not think that either should have been given, but we cannot
influence the decision of the referee.
''The crowd got behind the referee's decision and then it is
always difficult away from home. We are an intelligent team and an
intelligent team makes the maximum result with the game they
produce. That is what we did not do. We complicated our game a
little bit and had five or six chances in the second half, but we
missed the final ball. That is what we have to
learn.''
After Liverpool inflicted holders Manchester United's second
loss of the season, Wenger reflected on two points dropped for his
third-placed team. ''It is very frustrating,'' he added.''It is, of
course, a major missed opportunity. In our job, you don't have this
luxury. You need to get points when you deserve to get points and
sometimes when you don't deserve to get the points. Today we never
got them when we deserved them - and that means we have not made
the maximum of what we should have done. But we have to keep the
positives as we played well and are a strong team.
''We want to learn to finish these games off which is basically
the most important lesson of the day. We have a great chance [for
the title] this year, but you cannot repeat this kind of
performance we had today and not come out with three
points.''
West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola praised the fighting spirit of
his team. Zola said: ''It is not a victory, but it sounds like it
with the crows, and that is what I was looking for. No matter what,
the spirit has to be there all the time. That is something we can
not do without.
"Last week [at Stoke] I saw something, a change and it is very
important and today I have seen something more. It was very
difficult to come back from that situation, but we did it and I am
very pleased and proud of them. I am more focused on the point and
to give a signal we are there and we are
fighting.''
While the Hammers - who have not won in the league since the
opening day - remain in the bottom three, the Italian coach feels
he has enough to be positive for the challenges
ahead.
''Today was difficult and we did it and that means we can do it
all the time,'' he said. ''With that spirit and with the qualities
we have in the team, I think we can do better things starting
today.''
Zola added: ''This team has got quality. We just need a bit more
confidence. Now, every time we make a mistake they score. That does
not help. We need to fight, fight, fight.''