Scott Parker insisted his Fulham side matched Charlton “toe-to-toe” in terms of commitment and hard work during the 0-0 draw at The Valley last night.

The Cottagers, who are vying for a spot in the Championship’s automatic promotion places, could have closed the gap with second-place Leeds United to just a point had they won.

But they spurned two good chances either side of half-time which would have seen them escape with a narrow victory.

Joe Bryan fired narrowly wide of the far post, after being released through on goal by Tom Cairney, before an unmarked Michael Hector glanced Ivan Cavaleiro’s corner off-target from close-range.

Despite not claiming all three points, Parker was otherwise pleased with how his team performed.

He said: “I think I saw a team today that was fully committed. If there's one thing we've been shy of a couple of times this year is when we've come up against teams like this.

“I think, first and foremost, you're coming up against a team in Charlton who are full of heart, full of character, full of desire and passion. You need to match that first and foremost, and if you match that then you hope your talent, and the way you play, can pull you through the game.

“You can't build your foundations on your talent because, as we've seen this year, when we build it on that, sometimes we've got beat through oppositions working [through us] and stuff like that.

“I didn't see that tonight. I think we matched them toe-to-toe to in that sense and it's just a shame we didn't take the couple of chances that fell our way.”

Parker, who began his playing career with Charlton before joining Chelsea in 2004, also praised Lee Bowyer for the work he has done at the club.

News that he had penned a new three-year deal was announced prior to kick-off following negotiations with the club’s new owners, East Street Investments.

Parker added: “He's doing a good job here and I think you've seen a team here tonight which was full of commitment and set up. Everything they did tonight was what they wanted and they executed that, really.

“He's done a very good job here. Really good.”