Players need to get fans onside: Clark

Fulham skipper Lee Clark accepts the players have to start giving the Craven Cottage faithful “something to shout about”.

The goalless draw against Charlton on Saturday left Chris Coleman’s men just six points above the Barclays Premiership relegation zone, and again saw sections of the beleaguered home support vent their frustrations.

Coleman described the Cottage fans as “mutes” following the 4-2 FA Cup victory over Derby three weeks ago, criticising supporters for being too quiet at a time when he expected their full backing.

And after the Charlton match – when chants of “4-4-2” could be heard from the stands and the team were cheered from the pitch at full-time – the Welshman urged the fans to “trust” him as he looked to take the club forwards.

Clark also echoed the manager’s calls for unity, saying: “We are all in it together and have to make sure we stick together to get to where we want to be.

“We have to produce performances to give them something to shout about, but they have to get behind us,” Clark added in the London Evening Standard.

One positive Coleman was able to take from another below-par display was the return of Steed Malbranque to first-team action.

The midfielder had been out since mid-January with an ankle injury but produced a solid showing on his comeback.

Coleman hopes to be able to call on the inspirational Frenchman again on a regular basis during the run-in.

“He played every game last year and we have missed him for three months of the season. His importance to the team is massive,” reflected the Fulham boss.

“I didn‘t know whether to start him because he has only played 75 minutes in the reserves, but he is so important to us because of the way he plays that I thought maybe he would do that bit of magic, create something for us and he nearly did.

“He has got 90 minutes under his belt now and is ready for the last nine games.”