Pompey'S slide towards the relegation zone continued when they lost their eighth match out of 10 at Craven Cottage yesterday.

The way they collapsed in the second half after a promising opening 45 minutes will be a worry for their supporters - but coach Joe Jordan denied he was concerned by Pompey's poor recent form.

"We have five points advantage on Crystal Palace, and there are teams in a more serious position than we are," said Jordan. "But that does not hide the fact that we do not have enough points."

Jordan also refused to accept that the players were unsettled by the current managerial situation at Portsmouth.

Head coach Velimir Zajec will return to his role as director of football at the end of the campaign - and chairman Milan Mandaric revealed yesterday that he has already spoken to potential candidates.

Jordan added: "We played well here. We continued in the vein of form we showed in drawing 1-1 with Newcastle in our last match.

"The players showed confidence here, and none of them were intimidated by the circumstances surrounding the club."

With Fulham 1-0 down at half-time thanks to a brilliant Lomana LuaLua strike and booed off by a section of their supporters, boss Chris Coleman brought on striker Brian McBride.

The move worked perfectly, and goals from Andy Cole, McBride and Luis Boa Morte ensured Fulham - who also missed a first-half penalty through Steed Malbranque - moved seven points clear of the relegation zone.

"I could not care less what people in the stands say," said Coleman. "I'm not paid to listen to that. If I were the type of person who did, then I wouldn't be a manager.

"I'm paid to pick the team I think will win the game - and that's what I did."