Hayles in timely plea

Fulham striker Barry Hayles has asked manager Jean Tigana for more time to solve their scoring problems.

Tigana has complained that his side have failed to convert enough of their opportunities in the Premiership despite having four players competing for two places.

The team have only scored three in their last five league games.

Hayles has to fight for a front-line spot with £11.5 million signing Steve Marlet, Louis Saha and Luis Boa Morte against Derby in the third round of the Worthington Cup at Craven Cottage tonight.

But he said: "We probably have not been finishing enough of our chances and I think the gaffer has got a point.

"We scored four goals in our first two games but then things have tailed off.

"When he says that and you are on the substitutes' bench, it is frustrating. All I can do is bide my time and show what I can do when I get a chance. More than ever, I have to take my chances because competition here is so fierce."

Tigana is set to give squad players and those returning from injury a chance in tonight's match.

A similar approach last season took Fulham to extra-time in the fifth round before they were eventually eliminated by Liverpool.

The Frenchman has defender Jon Harley and midfielder Sylvain Legwinski available again after injury but defenders Kit Symons and Alain Goma are expected to be given more time to recover from hamstring and hip problems.