Marco Silva praised Fulham’s spirit as the Whites recorded a gritty victory over Leeds United at Craven Cottage this afternoon – but admitted his side should have made the game safe long before Patrick Bamford’s late strike made for a nervy finale.

Second half goals from Harry Wilson and Andreas Pereira were enough to secure a second consecutive win for the Cottagers with Silva pleased that his side showed more invention after the interval. The Fulham head coach, restored to the touchline after serving his two match ban, told BT Sport after the final whistle:

“[The victory] was definitely well deserved, in my opinion, to play until 90-100 minutes. We were the best team in my opinion, the first-half was more balanced. With better decisions we could have created more chances. In the second-half we adjusted a little, but we had to have more patience. We needed to win the second balls and be more aggressive. With our quality and our fast attacks we did well with the two goals. There was chances to score even more. The own goal gave that belief to them, but well played to the lads they did well.”

Silva hailed the return to form of Wilson, who scored his second vital goal in seven days following his first league effort of the season at Everton last weekend.

A great finish from [Harry] Wilson – he deserves all the credit. It was tough for him with the bad injury in pre-season. He is working really hard and when the chance comes which he has had he takes the opportunities.”

The Cottagers’ head coach reiterated that he was proud of Fulham’s fine campaign, which has surprised all the talking heads, but insisted his focus has now switched to Tuesday night’s trip to in-form Aston Villa.

I said yesterday everyone expected us to go down. Everyone [who] talks in football [said] that we was [the] favourite to go down and nobody believes in us. We worked with the quality we have we was really proactive we showed that in the first game against Liverpool. We are proud of ninth but we are always looking at the next game.”