STUART Pearce's "dream signing" Steed Malbranque wrecked Wigan's slim chance of landing a UEFA Cup spot next season by snatching the only goal at Craven Cottage last night.

The Manchester City boss likes what he sees in match-winner Malbranque, the cultured little Frenchman with a proven eye for goal.

Pearce has tried in the past to sign him and could be tempted to revive his interest.

Malbranque's super strike on the stroke of half-time settled a match Wigan could not believe they had lost.

Latics, who were chasing a ninth away win, dominated from start to finish. They carved out a bagful of chances but again lacked a cutting edge to complement their hard work.

Manager Paul Jewell said: "I don't think we've dominated a game like that all season, the ball was going in the box, there was quality football but we didn't have the instinct to get us a goal.

"I don't know what the stats were but if it was a boxing match they would have asked for it to be stopped, I think.

"Our goalscoring record is where we have got to improve next season, and that's the whole team, not just the strikers."

Fulham's players had to endure the humiliation of being booed from the pitch by their fans at half-time despite having just scored, so bad was their performance.

Lethargic

Disinterested and lethargic, they allowed Wigan free rein and would have been out of the game but for some wasteful finishing. Jason Roberts, the impressive Gary Teale and Lee McCulloch missed chances to put the Latics ahead and their interval deficit was a huge injustice.

But Fulham approached the second half with far greater purpose and with the magnificent Malbranque weaving his magic, they had turned the match into a meaningful contest.

Wigan could still have equalised and even won the game as their rapid passing and silky movement created plenty of openings, but they lacked composure at crucial moments.

Fulham created the opening chance with just three minutes on the clock when a missed clearance fell to Malbranque, only for the alert Michael Pollitt to save his deflected shot.

The Cottagers were carved open themselves when Teale darted into the box, rounded Wayne Bridge and pulled the trigger, but the fingertips of Antti Niemi prevented Wigan taking the lead.

Teale again made inroads down the right in the 23rd minute, this time finishing his run with a lofted pass to Roberts but the Wigan skipper nodded wide, wasting a good chance.

Scrappy play plagued both sides but Wigan looked the more assured in attack, unlocking Fulham's defence in the 29th minute only for McCulloch to bring the move to a disappointing end with a weak header.

The Cottagers were now being thoroughly outplayed with Wigan spraying the ball around at will.

Teale added: "We deserved to win. But at the end of the day it's a harsh game if you don't take your chances."

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