Fulham Chief Coach Stuart Gray was left to bemoan chances missed for a result at Derby. Instead, the Fulham head coach could only draw consolation from a hard-fought game – at least for the first hour.

He said: “At half-time I said it’s not as if Derby are cutting us up,

“But we were giving the ball away far too cheaply in dangerous areas. We had two or three good chances to get our noses in front but we’re playing against a very good side who are full of confidence.

“To concede the goal in which we did was poor defending. But it’s the story of our season – it’s taken a double deflection and ended up going in off the boy Hyndman.

“I was disappointed with how far (Johnny) Russell got into the box without a challenge. He’s whipped in a cross, it’s hit Tim Ream in the chest and then Hyndman.

“Then we’ve got to chase the game against a Derby side who are one of the better sides in the league at counter-attacking.”

The Whites are winless in nine without a win and a permanent head coach, but Gray added: “We can’t use that as an excuse, all we can control is what happens on the pitch.

“Decisions are being made by the people upstairs. I can’t fault the players’ effort and commitment, but at the moment we’re probably being undone by not being clinical enough in front of goal and not defending better when we’re in possession of the ball.

“We go again on Tuesday against a Rotherham side who won 4-0 today. We have to be braver and better with the ball. Until told different, I’m expecting to be in charge.”