We’ll make it yet vows Jokanovic

FULHAM manager Slavisa Jokanovic is confident his side will bounce back in the play-offs after Birmingham ended their 23-match unbeaten run to stay up.

The Cottagers had to settle for third place after goals by Lukas Jutkiewicz, Harlee Dean and Che Adams denied them automatic promotion.

Tom Cairney’s late header was consolation as Fulham, who would have gone up with a victory after Cardiff had drawn 0-0 with Reading, were second best. Fulham will now face Derby in the play-offs and Jokanovic believes his team, who were beaten by Reading in the end-of-season showpiece last season, will recover.

“I always believe we are going to win the next game. Just because we lost one game I am not going to change my mind,” said Jokanovic.

“The quality and character we have shown many times and we have shown we can play good football. We will be ready for the play-offs.”

Birmingham were at Fulham’s throats, never allowing them to settle. They gained an early reward when Jutkiewicz stabbed home. He missed two further chances before Dean made it 2-0 two minutes before the break, heading in a Jota cross.

Jota’s free-kick was scrambled clear by keeper Marcus Bettinelli before Cairney’s header jangled Brummie nerves with six minutes left.

But sub Adams restored the two-goal cushion.

“We wanted to do it on our terms and we did,” said Birmingham manager Garry Monk. “This has to be a new era. We have to make sure this club is never in this situation again. We have to change the whole mentality.”