'Fulham won't progress if we keep leaking goals' - Rene Meulensteen

Fulham head coach Rene Meulensteen has admitted Fulham will not drag themselves out of their relegation scrap if they keep leaking goals.

The Cottagers lost 4-1 at home to fellow strugglers Sunderland and have now conceded 46 goals in 21 league matches, more than any other side.

"You just can't make progress doing that, not at all," Meulensteen said.

"We were quite in control early on and then we didn't convert those chances, from (Dimitar) Berbatov and (Adel) Taarabt.

"We gave ourselves a mountain to climb.

"These are the games you need to win; simple.

"Their third goal was the defining moment, and credit to them for that.

"We've got to get conceding those goals out of our system."