BREDE Hangeland reckons there is work to be done in the Fulham defence before next Saturday’s opener at Sunderland.

The captain saw two preventable goals allow Parma a comeback from a goal down and win 2-1 in the last pre-season friendly before the Premier League start.

Hangeland (pic) agreed a friendly was nothing like the real thing, but was honest enough to admit the warning signs had been posted by the slick Italians.
He said: “It’s very hard to replicate a league game in a friendly, but having said that we didn’t play as well as we could, and we definitely wanted to win the game, but I’m sure the mentality will be different when we walk out next Saturday.”

Steve Sidwell got the Whites off to a great start with his right-foot rocket from 30 yards on 10 minutes for 1-0.

Parma were nearly level when Marco Parolo rattled the bar, and Fulham were then grateful a follow-up header from Amauri drifted wide.

Derek Boateng’s backside did a clearing job when Parma were faced with a clear sight of goal and keeper Maarten Stekelenburg out of position.

But the home side was not so lucky 10 minutes into the second half when Gabriel Paletta rose head and shoulders above the defence to crash home a near-post header following a well-worked corner routine.

There was even the rare sight of a yellow card in a friendly when Jaime Valdes scythed down sub Giorgos Karagounis.

The Greek saw red as he squared up to the Parma player, who after his caution was immediately subbed.

Former White Stefano Okaka was a glancing header wide from winning it when left alone in the centre.

Nicola Sansone did just that when he was likewise a lone man to stoop and nod it home from a cushioned cross on 85 minutes to bring furrowed brows from Hangeland and co.

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