Fulham manager Scott Parker was delighted with his team’s fightback as they beat Premier League outfit Brighton in a pre-season friendly on Saturday. The Cottagers hosted the friendly and fell behind in the 25th minute due to a controversial goal.

Glenn Murray appeared to be offside as Pascal Gross netted from a free-kick, but Parker’s men refused to panic as they went into the break one-nil down. Fulham captain Tom Cairney soon turned the game on its head with two quick-fire goals in the second half.

His first came thanks to a neat finish from outside the box before the grabbed a second in the 59th minute from close range. Parker’s men still have to play friendlies against Oxford United and West Ham United this summer, but the former midfielder was pleased with his team’s response, and Cairney’s contribution in particular.

He told the club’s official website: “The performance was different in the first half as we looked slow and jaded in our ways. The boys have been coming off a hard week, so it is expected. “We were disappointed with the first half and the way we went about it but second half I cannot fault them.

We looked a real threat and upped the intensity. We got stronger as the game went on to be fair. “Tom will be vitally important, and he had the other midfielders will need to chip in with some goals. He will be massive for us this season.”

Fulham will start the new Championship season against Barnsley on August 3 and they are 2.25 to grab an away win, while the draw is 3.40 and Barnsley are priced at 3.00 to get all three points.