Fulham manager Mark Hughes admits his side may have to play uglier football at times if they are to end their 13-month stretch without an away win.
The Cottagers’ last win away from home came in August last year when predecessor Roy Hodgson guided the Cottagers to a 1-0 victory over Portsmouth at Fratton Park on the opening day of last season.
The Londoners have failed to win on the road so far under Hughes’ stewardship despite taking the lead at Blackpool and West Ham.
Saturday’s stalemate at Upton Park could have been prevented had Brede Hangeland not carelessly misplaced a pass on the edge of his box in the build-up to Frederic Piquionne’s 51st-minute equaliser.
Hughes is proud of the attractive game he has instilled within the Fulham camp since his appointment this summer but admits he may have to sacrifice that to end the team’s awayday hoodoo.
“We overplayed to our cost unfortunately,” said Hughes, whose side went in 1-0 up at the break thanks to Clint Dempsey’s goal.
“We are a good side and we want to play a certain way but maybe away from home that attitude and that philosophy has to be tempered a little bit and you have to know when it’s right to clear your lines, regroup and get a view of what’s going on.
“After the break they changed the shape a bit. At that stage you maybe have to a bit cold minded and realise that maybe it’s not the time to play football and you have to clear your lines instead and get an understanding of what the changes the opposition have made but we just continued to play in the same way, which is to our credit.”
Saturday’s draw meant Fulham dropped to ninth in the table but Hughes’ side remain unbeaten in their seven games so far – a feat matched only by Manchester United.
Fulham would have been much higher in the table had the West London outfit not drawn six of their matches this term.
Hughes denies he is becoming frustrated by Fulham’s tag of draw specialists and insists that he has a squad with sufficient pedigree to start winning more games soon.
“It’s only a matter of time given the quality that we have got before we turn the draws into victories,” said the former Blackburn boss.
“I have a good group of players. I have a lot of technical players that, certainly away from home, maybe bear the scares of not having won enough times on the road.
“We have to overcome that and we are conscious of it but I’m not scared by it or feeling bogged down by it.”
