Keane bites his lip

Richardson hit the woodwork three times near the end of the first half - with one shot - before he tried his luck with another set-piece nine minutes after the break - and despite hitting the back of the net, Stroud ruled it out.

"The official got it wrong, no doubt about it, but there is no point in me ranting and raving and swearing about it because it wouldn't do me any good and might get me into trouble," Keane insisted.

Stroud, refereeing only his second Premier League game this season, spotted pushing by Pascal Chimbonda in the Fulham wall and disallowed the strike - even though television replays appeared to prove the full-back innocent.

"I prefer to focus on some of the positive football we played because if there is something I can't control goes against us I just have to accept it," he added.

"It certainly didn't look to be our day - especially with Kieran hitting the woodwork like that.

"It was a game of chances and yet no goals. That's why top strikers are paid so much money to put the ball in the net.

"But to be honest Fulham had chances as well and perhaps a draw was a fair result. No - change that, we edged it."

Fulham boss Roy Hodgson admitted: "I don't think I've ever seen the ball hit the woodwork three times from one shot before - but long may it continue if we are the side to benefit.

"People might say we were lucky but I thought we played well, fought hard and deserved a draw at least."