NEWCASTLE boss Bobby Robson conducted a lengthy post-mortem into last night's hugely disappointing home draw with Fulham, then emerged to insist: "It's not all doom and gloom.''

United were booed off by their fans, but Robson hit back and declared: "I think they've forgotten how well we've played this season.

"I understand they pay their money and they want to see us win 3-0.

"But if we'd won 1-0, I would have been really pleased.

"We need the fans to stay with us. The players need encouragement.

"We need the team on the pitch and the team in the stands.

"We can still qualify for the Champions' League - we've got a game in hand.''

Newcastle led at the interval through a Kieron Dyer goal, but former United loanee Louis Saha levelled for Fulham late in the game.

Robson said: "At half-time I said to the players, 'Can we win this game 1-0?'

"A good team would have done, but nobody is more disappointed than the players and everyone at the club.

"We've been playing for ten months now with our Intertoto Cup involvement and we looked tired and edgy in this game.

"Kieron got a lovely goal for us - it was a brilliant finish. But we were poor down the flanks and I don't think we played well enough in the second half to create any chances - Alan Shearer never had a sniff of goal.

"We didn't defend the corner when they scored. I thought we gave the goal away too cheaply.'

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