Fulham were a well-placed spot-kick away from all-but-ending the EPL title retention dreams of West London neighbours Chelsea on Monday night, when American striker Clint Dempsey failed to beat Blues keeper Petr Cech from 12 yards, deep into stoppage time in the sides’ 0-0 draw.

One consequence of Fulham’s recently improved form was the call-up to the England squad of goalkeeper David Stockdale for the recent friendly in Denmark.

Victory over Chelsea would have seen Fulham climb to tenth in the EPL, a long-time target of manager Mark Hughes.

But the Welshman complained afterwards that referee Mike Dean should have ordered a retake of the spot-kick as Chelsea striker Didier Drogba had encroached some yards into the area before it was taken.

He said: “Drogba was alongside Clint as he kicked it. Mike Dean saw that, so it should have been retaken.”

Hughes, however, refused to blame Dempsey for failing to convert the vital kick, saying: “I was never brave enough to take a penalty myself in my career, so I am certainly not going to start criticising Clint Dempsey.”

And he praised defender Brede Hangerland for playing despite having a “raging temperature” for much of the matchday.

Second-choice keeper Stockdale received his England call-up after a series of impressive displays while first-choice custodian Marc Schwarzer was in Qatar on Asia Cup duty with Australia.

The 25-year-old was third choice in manager Fabio Capello’s depleted squad.

Fulham host Bolton Wanderers in the FA Cup fifth round this coming Sunday afternoon.