Sanchez finds relief

LAWRIE SANCHEZ should have been basking in the glow of only a second league win this season on Saturday.

Instead, he was sympathising with his Reading rival Steve Coppell’s assertion that football management is “not an enjoyable job.”

Disappointment at another missed opportunity made Coppell spit out those words after late goals by Clint Dempsey and David Healy sunk his plucky team’s hopes of a first away league win this term, but Sanchez was not about to disagree.

He said: “I understand what he’s saying but the job does have its rewards — sometimes.

“It is a strange one, because when you win it is a relief more than anything and you can’t get carried away with euphoria.”

Sanchez saw Wales midfielder Simon Davies open the scoring with a drilled low drive 17 minutes.

But the manager’s biggest bonus was a debut substitute appearance from on-loan striker Shefki Kuqi, who played a major part in putting Fulham back in front after Kevin Doyle headed an equaliser.

After 72 minutes, Kuqi rose powerfully to head a fine cross by fellow sub Healy. Although his effort was blocked, Dempsey was on hand to net the rebound.

Healy’s goal wrapped it up in the last minute of normal time.

But Sanchez did not need another sending off; this time Elliot Omozusi, 18, was harshly dismissed for two yellow-card offences.

FULHAM (4-4-2): Niemi 5, Stefanovic 7, Omozusi 5, Ashton 6, Hughes 5, Davies 8, Murphy 5, Davis 6, Bouazza 5 (Kuqi 60, 6), Dempsey 8, Kamara 7 (Healy 67, 6).

Subs Not Used: Warner, Ki-Hyeon, Leijer.

READING (4-4-2): Hahnemann 7, Murty 7 (Long 87, 5), Duberry 5, Sonko 6, Shorey 6, Gunnarsson 4, Harper 5, Hunt 6, Lita 6 (Convey 76, 6), Kitson 5, Doyle 7.

Subs Not Used: Federici, Ingimarsson, Rosenior.

REFEREE: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear) 6: Will have been grateful to escape the headlines following his Merseyside derby.

MATCH RATING: ** Far from a classic, but Fulham would have taken three points any way they came.