Sucker punch: Pragmatic Monk happy with Leeds United point

Cairney curled home a brilliant effort with the last chance of an engrossing game to prevent Leeds from moving 11 points clear of seventh-placed Fulham in the Championship table. United were poised to kill off the threat of Fulham catching them after an early own goal from Tim Ream broke the deadlock at Craven Cottage but midfielder Kalvin Phillips was sent off late in the game as Fulham piled on the pressure and Cairney snatched a point with a top-corner finish deep into injury-time.

Leeds chief Monk said: “We had a game plan and followed it excellently against a good side who have been free-scoring here. It feels like a sucker punch with the way it came at the end very end, but that’s football.

“You have to take it on the chin. It was a good point against a very good side. We needed a second goal and the ball hit the post which would have done it. That would have sealed the game for us.

“Things went for and against them and us. It’s another performance and a point to where we want to go.”

Fulham manager Jokanovic said:”I’m really proud how we played. We actually scored two and we deserved three points.

“We made an accidental start with the own goal and we scored a legal score, but he referee does not see the situation. Then Tom scores a fantastic goal.

“We played all the football and created many, many chances. We shot 23 times on goal. We won only one point, but deserve three.

“You can’t complain about the referee. He is human. But it’s an expensive mistake. I see myself that the ball is past the line. It was a big mistake. Goal-line technology would be good.

“We were very competitive and were rewarded in the last moments of the game. It’s an important point as there’s many games still in front of us. We played with confidence and with style. We need to push hard to be in the top six.”