MIDDLESBROUGH boss Steve McClaren was a relieved man last night while his Fulham counterpart, Chris Coleman, was struggling to contain his fury after a last minute penalty decision cost his side a vital win at the Riverside.

McClaren was keen to point to the decisions his side didn't get before Edwin van der Sar was adjudged to have fouled Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink in the box with two minutes left - Bolo Zenden slotting home the spot-kick.

An 82nd minute strike from Brian McBride appeared to have won all three points for the Cottagers before Hampshire referee Rob Styles then stepped into proceedings.

The Waterlooville official may still have been in celebratory mood following the announcement earlier this week that he would be in charge for next month's FA Cup Final between Arsenal and Manchester United, and Boro were the beneficiaries of his good fettle.

Gareth Southgate had earlier escaped a sending off after scything down Tomasz Radzinski following a first half booking for a foul on Luis Boa Morte.

Then after allowing Southgate off with a warning, Styles adjudged der Sar committed his foul on Hasselbaink inside the area.

It was a poor performance from a patched up Boro side who boasted three 18-year-olds on the bench and the home fans made their feelings known, booing the side off at the interval.

A draw was hardly deserved but McClaren was far from sheepish in accepting his good fortune and the point which keeps their hopes of top-seven place, and a UEFA Cup spot, alive.

"Hasselbaink had a good shout in the first half for a penalty, and also had his shirt pulled back after the break," said an unrepentant Boro boss.

"Credit to my players for never giving up. The fans were entitled to have a go in the first half but we never gave up.

"It's our first penalty in 13 months."

Coleman said the evidence was clear that the foul was outside the area.

"The referee looked to the linesman who was in prefect position to see, and then the referee gives a penalty," said the Fulham boss. "It would take 30 seconds to watch that on playback.

"The result of that is we're now talking about one point instead of three.

"If it was in the box then van der Sar would be coming out and claiming the ball with his hands."

So incensed was Coleman that he had to be restrained by skipper Lee Clark and Fulham officials from confronting Styles at the final whistle.

He said: "The last three weeks we've been involved in incidents that have gone against us. It would only take a 30 second playback to sort out those sort of things.'