Scott Parker is delighted with the second-half performance against Charlton Athletic at Craven Cottage.
The Whites twice had to come from behind, and in the end had to settle for a point in what was an eventful London derby.
“We’re certainly a little bit disappointed that we haven’t come out winners in the end,” said Fulham’s Head Coach.
“In the first-half they caused us problems and were worthy of their one goal lead.
“The game was pretty stretched, and we looked like we lacked a little bit of energy, maybe that was a knock-on effect from the past two games.
“We changed it around a little bit and their keeper pulled off a couple of world class saves, and it was a difficult game against a stubborn defence.”
Bobby Decordova-Reid came on as a half-time substitute, and Scott was very pleased with the impact he made.
“They pressed with numbers and our spare man was Mitro and while we got the ball to him, there wasn’t a lot of support,” Parker explained.
“Obviously, bringing Bobby on to get around Mitro caused them a few problems. Bobby was first class.
“We then got a sucker punch and they scored, but I’m pleased with the character on show.
“There’s one thing we need to address and change here is a mentality, show a real desire and urgency and togetherness, which takes time.
“This is a team that three months ago was used to losing football games, got relegated and there are still some scars. Every day we work on the mentality.
“I want to see a real work ethic and a never say die attitude, and I certainly got that in the second-half.
“We’re a big team in this league.
Teams will come here and show us respect, and we must rise up to that challenge and not shirk it, not hide away from it, stand up to it.
“If we do that, our quality will prevail and we’ll be alright.”
The Whites head into the international break unbeaten in six matches, and Fulham’s Head Coach believes his side are in a good place.
“I feel a real shift and turn,” said Parker.
“The hangover was there early in the season, but in the last or two or three weeks, momentum is firmly with us.
“Maybe the international break has come at a bad time for us.
“We’re a very good side. Along the way there are going to be some bumps.
We need to understand that when the bumps come, we have to be man enough to stand up and ride over them.
We’re in a place where we can do that.
“The players can now have some rest, as it’s been a tough couple of weeks.
“They’ve done brilliantly. We end this period with a second-half performance that delighted me massively.”
Finally, Parker reserved special praise for his talisman Aleksandar Mitrovic, who bagged his 8th goal of the campaign.
“Mitro in the second-half represents everything I want my team to be,” enthused Parker.
“If you look him as a man and what he represents, he’s a man who works his socks off.
“Taking out the detail from his play and just look at him as a man, he’s someone who’s desperate to win, who tried his hardest to get a goal and tried to do everything to win. For me that’s the most important thing.
“Of course, the detail of the work we do is vitally important, but I want to see players like Mitro taking it by the scruff of the neck.”
