Fulham manager Martin Jol has praised his team's spirit in their first home win, overcoming Stoke City thanks to a late Darren Bent strike at Craven Cottage this afternoon.

It was reported before the match that Martin Jol's future depended on the outcome, but the Dutchman said that his players "fought like lions" to claim their first home victory of the Premier League season.

"Relieved, emotional, whatever you want to call it, we needed those three points for sure," BBC Sport quotes Jol as saying.

"We realise we didn't play our best match but there is a lot of relief because we needed the points. Although they looked better than us, for all their pressure they only had a few chances. They could have a penalty and we could have had one as well.

"We need wins and wins will give us more stability. I can cope with the pressure. The players realise that and, if the manager can cope with it, they can cope as well. Today we showed a great team spirit and fought like lions."

The result lifts the Whites out of the relegation zone.