Cole not sitting on his laurels

14 April 2012
Portsmouth 1 Fulham 1

Andy Cole has never been one to take a back seat, either on or off the pitch. It was ironic, then, that the goal which salvaged a point for Portsmouth at Fratton Park should have been scored while he was seated on the ground, having edged himself backwards in order to find leg-swinging room.

If that strike was out of character, the 35-year-old quickly assumed the full frontal stance, which has become his trademark at each of his eight clubs.

Cole has now scored 188 Premiership goals. Only Alan Shearer has more. When discussions deepen on the best goalscorers in the Premiership, however, Cole rarely rates a mention. That grates and he is not afraid to admit it.

He said: 'What have I done for people to question me? I have been lucky with injury, but I have scored my goals and it would be nice for someone to come out and say I deserve credit for that.

'After 188 goals in the Premiership, people are still doubting how I have got so many goals. If I get to 200 it will be very special. I will be only the second person to do it, so that would be a landmark.

'If I get 200, it's going to be etched in history, there in black and white, and you can't take that away from me. I will be more than happy with that.

'I wear my heart on my sleeve and sometimes that has got me in trouble for speaking my mind. But I can't change that. I have been brought up this way. I talk frank, but I am honest.'

Cole's strike cancelled out a Zat Knight header which had given the visitors a 57th-minute lead. Fulham boss Chris Coleman, who has transformed his side's away form from last season, is relishing the chance of a top-10 finish.

He said: 'We've done everything differently to how we did it last year in our preparation.

'It wasn't hard to figure it out. We just had to get better away from home. Not in performances, but in results. We're doing something right.'

PORTSMOUTH (4-4-2): James; Pamarot, Primus, Campbell, Stefanovic; O'Neil (Thompson 87min), Davis, Mendes, Taylor (Cole 66); LuaLua, Kanu (Benjani 83). Subs (not used): Kiely, O'Brien.

FULHAM (4-5-1): Niemi; Rosenior, Knight, Pearce, Queudrue; Radzinski, Bocanegra, Volz (Routledge 79), Jensen (Diop 86), Boa Morte; McBride (John 90). Subs (not used): Lastuvaa, Helguson. Booked: Knight, Niemi, Queudrue.

Referee: S Bennett (Kent).

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