Fulham boss Kit Symons described his side as ‘awful’ after the 1-1 draw with Rotherham – and insisted the game could have been over at half time.
Symons had to suffer the loss of two points at home for the second time in four days against a fellow relegation struggler, but at the end, was grateful Ross McCormack’s 16th of the season that gained a crumb of comfort.
“First half I thought we were awful, terrible, we were nowhere near it,” he said.
“Credit to Rotherham, they pressed us and we weren’t at it. We didn’t get the ball down and pass it and we didn’t compete well enough either.
“We couldn’t get our flair players into the game but you still need to be able to dig in and compete and that wasn’t really happening first half. We rode our luck and the one positive at half-time was that we were still in the game. They could have been out of sight.
“Second half we got the goal back and had a couple of half-decent chances. The players showed good character to come from a goal behind. We competed better, got the goal and had a few other chances.
“But first half we looked very nervous. It’s an anxious time for the club and people are concerned and worried. But you have to deal with the situation.”
There’s still a bit to do,” said Symons. “We’re limping closer. I would have liked to have seen us sprinting over the line and the sooner we do it the happier I’ll be.”
The Whites went a goal behind on four minutes, and there were sections of the crowd on the team’s back on and off throughout the game.
Even McCormack’s leveller was temporary respite from another chorus of disapproval at the final whistle.
“Nervousness and confidence are very difficult to affect and change,” added Symons. “You try your upmost to gee the boys up and you can say all the right things, but once that whistle goes it’s down to the lads on the pitch.
“It’s tough and it’s hard work at the minute. I’d be gloomier if we’d lost all three, we’re getting there but it’s quite painful for everyone. It’s getting through this season, maintaining our Championship status and doing a lot of hard work over the summer.”
A win on Saturday at doomed Blackpool, and results from Wigan and Millwall going in Fulham’s favour means the rebuild can start as early as Monday morning.
