Martin Jol demands goals from Fulham team

Fulham scraped through their FA Cup replay against Blackpool

Fulham boss Martin Jol believes his team have shown the character required to climb the Barclays Premier League - but now wants the goals.

The Londoners remain in the bottom half of the table after winning just two of their last 14 games.

But Jol was happy with the spirit displayed as his side staged a late salvage act at freezing Bloomfield Road to snatch a place in the fourth round of the FA Cup at the expense of Championship side Blackpool.

Kieran Richardson struck an equaliser in injury time and Brede Hangeland settled a largely unremarkable replay 2-1 in dramatic fashion the 116th minute.

Jol said: "It is about a little bit of quality and character and we showed a lot of character.

"But sometimes we need a little bit more urgency up front.

"In the first half we had two or three very good opportunities and you have to take pressure off your team. That is a responsibility you have got and that is what we lack sometimes.

"In the first three months we were scoring goals for fun and now, over the last five, six or seven weeks, we have had problems scoring goals."

Despite being the technically superior team, Fulham failed to suppress the managerless Seasiders and were stung when Aston Villa loanee Nathan Delfouneso tapped in after Mark Schwarzer failed to clear after 83 minutes.

Tiago Gomes was inches away from adding a second, but late substitute Kieran Richardson saved Fulham when a clearance came his way and he fired home in the third and final minute of injury time.

Blackpool were not perturbed and had excellent chances in extra time through Tom Ince, Kirk Broadfoot and Gary Taylor-Fletcher, but Hangeland headed the winner, with aid of a deflection, from a corner.

Richardson said: "We're buzzing. To come back right at the end and score in extra time - a great header from the captain.

"The lads dug in. It was a hard shift, the pitch was bad and conditions didn't help us. We dug in as a team and it was a great victory."

Richardson, who along with Damien Duff and Aaron Hughes dropped to the bench while Dimitar Berbatov and Bryan Ruiz were rested, now wants to build some momentum.

Fulham face a tough test as they travel to champions Manchester City on Saturday.

Former Manchester United midfielder Richardson, 28, said: "We have got a hard game coming up on Saturday, Man City away.

"Going to the champions is always going to be hard - we have got to stick together.

"We have got some hard games coming up. Our form hasn't been the best but we have got a great manager and great coaches. I'm sure we'll do well."

Despite needing so long to kill off Blackpool, who performed admirably under the caretaker charge of Steve Thompson, Jol felt he made the right call by making five changes for the game.

He said: "Berbatov has played all the games and he felt tired.

"Ruiz had a little bit of a problem with his hamstring again.

"He has had to play all these games as well, so I had to rest those two."

PA