Managers put friendship on hold for Cottage clash

FULHAM manager Chris Coleman is backing his old friend Gareth Southgate to become a top manager.

The pair, on opposite sides when Fulham play Middlesbrough at Craven Cottage tonight, shared their early careers at Crystal Palace.

Fulham’s run of four defeats in the last five games has seen them slip to 15th place in the Premiership from a season’s high of seventh only a few weeks ago.