David Button has called on his Fulham team-mates to become stronger after a disheartening away defeat at Aston Villa yesterday afternoon.

Head coach Slavisa Jokanovic was heavily critical of Fulham’s lack of bravery and quality in possession as failed to stand up to the physical challenge posed by Steve Bruce’s side and goalkeeper Button admits that the Whites will need to become more streetwise if they are to mount a serious push for promotion from the Championship this term. The goalkeeper told Get West London’s Ryan O’Donovan:

It comes down to being strong in both boxes. I think we had a couple of good chances which we didn’t take and they got a set piece and a goal that was avoidable. Based on chances we probably should have drawn, but we need to understand when we come away from home teams team will be strong and physical and we need to stand up to it.

We know we’ll be fine on the ball because we have the quality but we need to make sure we’re harder to beat. It was a little bit more difficult but the conditions were hard with the wind but I felt we got it out okay and our better chances came when we did it well but looking back we could’ve done better in the first half but it was certainly tricky with their press.

Button took little comfort from his individual performance – the former Brentford stopper made excellent saves to thwart Jonathan Kodija twice, Josh Onomah and substitute Ritchie de Laet – after Fulham failed to pick up a point from a game during which they controlled possession for long periods.

It’s frustrating. It’s a good feeling when you make the saves but we need to get something from the game. When you lose it makes everything not as important but we’re still close to the top six and the top two and we’ll keep going.