Parker Makes Cottagers Pledge

Fulham caretaker boss Scott Parker says the Cottagers will continue to fight on despite edging closer to relegation at the weekend.

Youri Tielemans had put Leicester in front but Floyd Ayite’s deflected effort levelled matters six minutes into the second half after coming on at the break to give Fulham brief hope. Kasper Schmeichel saved well from Aleksandar Mitrovic’s header before Jamie Vardy scored with 12 minutes left after James Maddison’s through ball.

The 2-1 defeat left Fulham 13 points from safety and they face Manchester City and Liverpool in their next two games.

The second-bottom Cottagers have lost 10 of their last 11 games but Parker insisted they will continue to fight. He said: “It’s going to be really tough. I have a real realism. While it’s still mathematically possible we’re still not done.

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It’s been a tough year but the players have a lot to play for. “Whether we’re down or whatever, every game will be a cup final. The individual errors have cost us and been a massive part of this year.

The first half wasn’t us. “We were a little naive in the way we played against a side under a new manager with a front four who were very aggressive in their pressing. We didn’t give ourselves a foundation. In the second half we were more grown up.”