Coleman plays down fans' ambitious demands

From being booed and told "You don't know what you're doing", during the 1- 1 draw against Portsmouth last weekend, to being confronted with stories of his car being bugged by his wife - supposedly over suspicions of him 'playing away' - Coleman knows that two Easter defeats would plunge Fulham into relegation trouble.

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Under pressure: Chris Coleman says there's pressure from all sides as he strives to keep Fulham in with the big boys

The 42-year-old Welshman even accepts that a section of Fulham fans are bored with him as manager, even though he has kept them in the Premiership for six years.

But Coleman, whose side face Everton at Goodison Park tonight before Monday's home showdown with fellow strugglers Manchester City, does not duck from his problems.

He said: "My position is high profile. Sometimes the media will intrude into your private life. That's the way it goes. But in no way does it affects me in my job.

"Unfortunately, if the media want to drag the club or me through the mud, possibly to get to the chairman. I've got to take that on the chin. The most important thing for me is getting some points on the table."

On enjoying the stress of the job, Coleman said: "I took Brian McBride off against Portsmouth and I was getting booed and there were shouts of 'you don't know what you're doing'. But there's a streak in me that says: 'I do know what I'm doing'. You've got te be brazen and arrogant enough to say: 'I know exactly what I'm doing and whether you like it or not, this is what we're going to do'."

"If it doesn't come off, we know what the circumstances are. But I do love it. I love it even more at the moment because it's going to be so nervy and I know what the feeling is like. And there's no other feeling."

If Coleman is allowed to try and take the club on to a higher level than mid-table, and he believes they can finish near to last season's 12th spot, the price to pay for owner Mohamed Al Fayed will be around £20million - and he does not think such a bill can be met.

Coleman said: "To get into the position that certain people want, I'm not going to get that kind of financial backing. So maybe it needs a change. I'd say OK, that's fine."

Not that Coleman is thinking about quitting, although ironically, his name has been linked with Monday's visitors Manchester City - and the Fulham boss will get a reminder today of how the fans view of a manager can change.

He said: "I spoke to Everton manager David Moyes a few weeks ago when he was getting stick after they got beaten by Tottenham, even though he was chasing fifth place. He said that people get bored. You finish high and people keep trying to push the bar higher."

With defender Ian Pearce ruled out with an ankle injury after he stayed on to grab the late equaliser against Portsmouth, Coleman is giving Zat Knight a chance to redeem himself.

Knight was axed after the 4-0 home thrashing by Spurs in the FA Cup when he rowed with fans.

Coleman said: "He knows you've got to be bigger than that. You're going to get criticism, you've got to shut your mouth and get on with your job."

Everton manager David Moyes admits that his captain Phil Neville and other strong characters are making his job easier in the drive for a return to Europe.

A point against Fulham will take them back above Tottenham into the top six and Moyes points to Neville and goalkeeper Tim Howard, who experienced successful finishes to campaigns at Manchester United, for making any motivational talks almost redundant.

He said: "I've not set any targets. The players are the ones doing that. I'm hearing them pressing each other to deliver. They want to be involved in European football.

"I want winners and players to show that they are winners, and we've got one or two in our squad and that's rubbing off on the others."