Coleman backs Chelsea for title

FULHAM boss Chris Coleman has backed neighbours Chelsea to be crowned Barclays Premiership champions after Manchester United’s slip-up.

The result means that United missed a chance to close within two points of third-placed Arsenal, who they now trail by four, while they are nine adrift of leaders Chelsea.

“As the game went on, maybe they got a little bit nervous. Obviously it was a fantastic strike which got us the point in the end. For a big guy he’s (Diop) got great technique and obviously that was a great strike,” Coleman said last night.

“Let’s not forget who we’re playing as well. They’re a quality team and they look like they’re back on track to me.

“Maybe in the first half we weren’t great, but we were better in the second half. It took a great goal to get us a point. I think Sir Alex has got some fantastic players. I still think Chelsea will win it, but United and Arsenal will push them all the way.

Whereas Coleman was buoyant after the final whistle, Ferguson was left to regret a string of near misses.

Asked for his verdict on the match, Ferguson said: “What do you think?

“That was an absolute giveaway. A good performance, some of the football was fantastic, but we just didn’t finish them off.

“In fairness, it’s was a fantastic strike from Diop. It’s destroyed a really terrific performance from us football-wise.”

“I think that’s what makes it so bad, that both our main rivals dropped points on Sunday,” Ferguson added.

“It gave us a great opportunity. I made the point on Friday that the most important result was ours and we haven’t delivered.

“The only good thing is that the form is good, the confidence of the team is very good.

“We played some great football. On another we might have scored five, six even, but at the end of the day we’ve dropped two points which we shouldn’t have dropped so we keep climbing that hill.”