By Matthew Jones
September 11 2005

Toon boss Graeme Souness and Fulham boss Chris Coleman comment following Saturday's 1-1 draw at St James' Park. Fulham took the lead through Brian McBride, but with just 12 minutes left on the clock, N'Zogbia equalised from a free-kick.

GRAEME SOUNESS:

"We didn't give Michael any real supply. With Fulham going a goal ahead and then defending quite well it wasn't best suited to Michael's game.

"He hasn't played much, and we saw Michael only on the day he was presented here, then on Thursday at three o'clock for a warm-down after the international.

"Then we had an hour with him yesterday. That's not the best preparation.

"The occasion maybe got to us a wee bit. In the first half we didn't start. We didn't do particularly well then.

"It took us until the second half to get going. Fulham were better than us in the first half, but we were better in the second half.

"With a shortage of midfield players playing, Stephen Carr there wasn't ideal, but we felt that was the best option we had for a right-sided player.

"Our intention at half-time was to leave Steven Taylor on and maybe take Titus off, because Titus hasn't even played a pre-season game this year."

On Scott Parker's dismisal, Souness added: "Jensen said that he tripped and fell and that he wasn't pulled by Scott Parker.

"That's also what Scott says, but the ref says Scott raised his hand."

CHRIS COLEMAN:

"We were making chances and if we got the second goal we could have gone on and scored three or four like last year.

"We've got to build on that. We had a good performance against Everton, we've come here and taken a point but we've gained more than a point in my eyes - it was a fantastic performance

"Last year were didn't deserve to come here and win 4-1, Newcastle were by far the better team. Today we deserved to win, we were the better team but sometimes you don't get what you deserve. I thought it was a great performance by us and I'm delighted with the players.

"You know what the crowd are like here, if they'd have scored early doors we could have been in a bit of trouble but I thought our centre backs were outstanding, they kept Michael and Alan very quite the whole game. When the ball did get to them, we defended very well.

"It was another wonder strike that beat us and you can't do anything about them. Tony Warner's a bit disappointed because he thought it was going over the bar.

"We missed a few chances but to be fair to the guys, they're getting in there now. Our midfield boys are gambling more, they're pushing forward and not holding back. We look more dangerous overall and we played some lovely football."