Coleman aims to pile on pressure

The Fulham manager, Chris Coleman, goes into the fifth-round FA Cup tie against Tottenham at Craven Cottage tomorrow £2,500 worse off than the last time his team took on Spurs.

But defeat at the hands of the boys from White Hart Lane could be more costly for the Welshman and his club, who would then have only a familiar middle-of-the-table scrap to sustain them for the rest of the year.

Coleman was hit in the pocket by the Football Association this week for showing "aggressive behaviour" to a match official, after the referee Mike Dean allowed a controversial late Spurs equaliser to stand in the 1-1 draw last month.

He did not defend the charge, but the punishment and a warning as to his future conduct will not stop Coleman sending his team out with just as much intent.

Coleman said: "If you ask any Premiership club what is their priority they will tell you that the league is their bread and butter. It is the same here, but the FA Cup is a huge incentive.

"We'll be fielding the best team we can. If you ask me whether I'd choose a quarter-final or three points against United it is difficult, but why can't we have both?"