Kamara happy but Parker isn’t looking too far
FULHAM boss Scott Parker insisted he is not trying to work out how his team can catch Championship top two West Brom and Leeds.
But he certainly believes his players have the mental strength needed to last the pace in the race for promotion.
Four days after a last-gasp 1-0 win over Swansea, his Fulham side were second-best for the first hour against a bold Preston side.
But then ex-England forward David Nugent headed a farcical own goal to give the Cottagers the lead.
And Aboubakar Kamara broke away in injury time to settle it.
“West Brom and Leeds have been the most consistent, they are two very good teams,” said Parker, whose third-placed side are five points behind United.
“We have them both to play but we have to concentrate first on Bristol City next week.
“My players looked tired but we have a bit of belief about ourselves.”
Preston boss Alex Neil was fuming that referee David Webb didn’t send off winger Anthony Knockaert after he appeared to flick a hand into the face of Darnell Fisher.
“I don’t think there was any question that it was a red card,” said Neil.
“The fourth official said to us, ‘Well he’s a lenient referee’. I said, ‘Well that’s really good, thanks very much for that’.”
WILFRIED ZAHA had the last laugh after a feisty clash in which Brighton fans sang, ‘You’re going to cry in a minute’ – but ended up weeping themselves.
The plummeting Seagulls are still waiting for their first win of 2020 as Jordan Ayew’s goal saw them crash to their fierce rivals.
His 71st-minute strike on the break sealed a smash-and-grab raid by the Eagles after a feisty game in which Zaha wound up the home supporters and survived accusations he spat towards them.
Ironically, in a pre-match interview the winger had claimed he was fed up of being billed as a pantomime villain.
But he did himself no favours as he allowed the home crowd to wind him up in spectacular fashion. The flashpoint came when he was ruled offside and cupped his hands to his ears as abuse rained down from the stands.
Albion substitute Ezequiel Schelotto, warming up on the touchline, then kicked the ball away – and the pair had to be separated as Zaha reacted angrily.
From then on his every touch was booed and Schelotto, who was booked for his part in the incident, wiped his eyes mockingly as the crowd chanted at the Palace ace, ‘You’re going to cry in a minute.’
There were even suggestions on social media that he spat towards fans – but replays showed it was at the floor rather than in anyone’s direction.
Manager Roy Hodgson was quick to play down the incident.
“I made nothing of it,” he said.
“I’m just glad Wilf didn’t lose his head. If that’s the worst thing that is going to happen in a derby then we’ve done quite well.
“Both sides gave their all in a very fair way.”
Brighton – without a win since December – are slipping towards the relegation zone.
But boss Graham Potter said: “I didn’t think it was a bad performance, we didn’t deserve to lose. I am confident we can stay up.
“I believe in the players and what we are trying to do.”
Nearly 50 miles separate The Amex and Selhurst Park but nobody can deny the intensity of their rivalry.
Brighton’s Solly March missed the best opportunity of the opening half in the 35th minute, firing into the side netting after Leandro Trossard’s cross-field pass.
The Seagulls were made to pay when, in a rare break, Christian Benteke set Ayew through on goal