Reading 3 Fulham 3:FROM THE outside at least it appears there is only one club in west London worth following if it is goals and attacking swagger you are looking for. But after this enthralling encounter Fulham can justifiably feel they deserve to be spoken of in similar terms as their neighbours Chelsea.

Waking up yesterday morning, and having got over the frustration of twice losing the lead to a Reading side yet to record a Premier League win this season, Martin Jol’s men could reflect on having scored as many goals, 19, as the European Champions – albeit having played one game extra – and one more than Manchester City and five more than Arsenal from the same number of fixtures.

Dimitar Berbatov was his typical languid self, barely breaking out of walking pace at times, but his control and delivery of possession were captivating and allowed Fulham to open up Reading on many occasions.

And then there was his goal after 88 minutes, a masterclass in movement and finishing, and a strike which, had it not been for Hal Robson-Kanu’s scrappy late equaliser, would have sealed a win that would have moved them into the top four.

On the eve of this game Jol had spoken of Fulham now having better attacking options than “at any time over the last decade” and, with Berbatov supplemented by fellow summer signings Hugo Rodallega and Mladen Petric, the Dutchman’s assertion does not appear a wild one. Alongside them is Bryan Ruiz, who came off the bench to score Fulham’s first goal with a rasping drive from the edge of the area and then set up their second, scored by Chris Baird, who himself has two goals in his last two appearances.

“What is my best forward line? That is still a problem and it’s already October,” said Jol. “But it’s a luxury problem.”

Reading remain in the relegation zone but they can take heart from the spirit they showed here, with Gareth McCleary and Robson-Kanu both getting them back on level terms in the last five minutes of the match after Mikele Leigertwood had given them the lead with an excellent long-range drive.

“I’m playing the game, not the outcome,” said a defiant McDermott. “The outcome will be in May and wherever we end up, we end up.

“People should also remember that 20-30 years ago this club was in whatever division, but it certainly wasn’t this one.”