Hodgson not content to draw

Hodgson: Wanted the win

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Fulham manager Roy Hodgson reflected upon his side's 0-0 draw with Stoke as an opportunity missed.

The Cottagers were arguably the better side in a game bereft of any cutting edge, and Hodgson feels that his team must turn such draws into wins if they are to build on their solid start to the season.

"It is a difficult place to come, but I really do think that with our second half performance in particular I've got to be a bit disappointed," he told Sky Sports.

"I think that we controlled the game, passed the ball very well, got ourselves into good positions and on many occasions we just couldn't find that last pass or the shot which would win us the game.

"I'm not 100 per cent satisfied because I think when you play as well as we did today then you've really got to win games, and drawing them we could regret those two points lost at some stage later on."

Refereeing decisions

Hodgson's side should have been granted a golden opportunity to grab the win when Danny Higginbotham clearly handled in the box, but the referee waved play on - much to the bafflement of Hodgson and his staff.

"There's no doubt that it was a handball, but it's whether or not the referee adjudges it to be accidental or not," he added.

"It's quite amazing when you see some of the handballs that are given these days and when as clear a handball as that is not given it does make you wonder.

"We feel a bit aggrieved about that but to be honest we did enough during the ninety minutes in free-play to win the game, we should have had the game wrapped up even without the referee awarding that penalty."

Referee Stuart Attwell then courted controversy once again when he decided not to book Ricardo Fuller or John Paintsil following a clash of heads as the men squared up to each other.

"It didn't see it at all but I would have been disappointed if Fuller had been sent off," said Hodgson.

"I don't think the game would have profited."