Manchester City boss Mark Hughes pointed the finger of blame at his defenders after Fulham stormed back from 2-0 down to snatch a point at Eastlands.

Hughes' men seemed to be coasting after goals from Joleon Lescott and Martin Petrov but Roy Hodgson's side hit back immediately through Damien Duff and Clint Dempsey.

The brace stretched City's run without a clean sheet to seven games and Hughes admitted his side's inability to cope with opponents' aerial threat is a concern.

Hughes said: "We were 2-0 to the good and we should have seen the game out but unfortunately we allowed them back in the game and given them a lift.

"Then it was how we dealt with balls into the box and a guy in Dempsey who is acknowledged as good in the air - and we haven't dealt with it.

"We've been caught out a couple of times this season and it seems to be prevalent this year, not just with us but with quite a few of the teams around us."

"We started really well in terms of our defensive work but we have conceded goals and we are working hard on that. There are always elements of our game we need to focus on."

Meanwhile Hughes paid tribute to Fulham for a second impressive performance at Eastlands this season following City's extra-time win in the Carling Cup in September.

Hughes added: "Credit to them because probably the two games we've had the most difficulty with this season here have been against Fulham. They get organised and make it difficult."

Fulham boss Hodgson was full of praise for striker Bobby Zamora despite a glaring 47th minute miss the manager described as "horrific".

With the score still goalless, Shay Given parried Dempsey's initial effort into the path of Zamora who somehow spooned the ball over the bar from six yards.

Hodgson said: "It was an horrific miss and it was a pity because he played so well.

"Unfortunately people who watch on the TV will see the miss and they won't see the 96 minutes and 45 seconds in which he was absolutely magnificent.

"Really it should have been seen as the crowning moment of a great performance but instead it is going to be seen as a glaring miss and a blot on his copybook which is sad for him.

"But if you want a good example of the character and resilience of this team and its ability to bounce back, Bobby's performance in the last 30 minutes shows that."

Hodgson said he thought a draw was a fair result but had issues with the set-piece that led to City's opening goal after the referee over-ruled the linesman to award a corner.

Hodgson said: "I'm aggrieved by the corner kick. It was a clear offside which was seen by the linesman then over-ruled and that has cost us a goal."