Sunday 19 April 2015 14:18, UK
Kit Symons was happy to win an 'ugly' game as a 1-0 victory at Blackpool all-but secured Fulham's Championship safety.
Matt Smith's eighth-minute header was enough to claim the win which puts Fulham nine points clear of third-from-bottom Millwall, who have three games left, but the Cottagers have a superior goal difference.
Blackpool are now without a win in their last 16 games and still require one point to equal the lowest tally ever posted since the second tier became 24 teams in 1988.
The hosts came close to grabbing a late equaliser when Gary Madine's 20-yard strike was superbly tipped round the post by Fulham goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli, and manager Symons was adamant anything but the three points for his side would have been an unfair result.
"A scrappy, horrible, ugly game but it was imperative we came and got a win and we managed to do that," he said.
"It's been tough lately to say the least. It's not been the most enjoyable but that's four away games now unbeaten without playing well.
"It was imperative we got the win and that's what we did with a clean sheet to boot.
"There were a couple of times where we could have scored another one towards the end but I'll just take the three points whatever way they come at this stage. It's very welcome.
"We did ride our luck a bit and we've not had an awful lot of luck this year to be honest so maybe it's a little bit overdue.
"Mathematically we need one more point but this was a massive game and result for us. I said that to the players before the game it was all about finding the win and the three points. It wasn't a classic. It's not one I will show the grandkids in years to come."
However, Blackpool boss Lee Clark believes his side fully deserved of at least a share of the spoils.
"I'm frustrated for the players because we didn't get what we deserved. I think we've dominated the game from start to finish," Clark said.
"They scored with their first attack. I don't think they've had many other opportunities. So it's frustrating because we certainly didn't deserve to lose.
"We might have even felt harshly done by had we only taken a point. It's the story of our season really. We dominated the game but just couldn't get through.
"There are lots of positives. The individual performances of lots of players we've had in the last four or five home games has been of a high standard but we've got to get wins on the board.
"We carried on dominating and their keeper pulls off a fantastic save from Gary Madine at the death.
"A lot of the players are playing for their futures. We've obviously made decisions on Andrea Orlandi and Jose Miguel Cubero and we will continue to talk all the time and the players will know what the decisions on them will be after the final game of the season against Huddersfield."
