An angry Roy Hodgson felt Fulham were the victim of an ‘injustice’ after two harsh red cards saw them slump to a 2-1 defeat against Roma having led the Italian side at half-time.

Erik Nevland was sent off for a tackle from behind when he barely clipped Daniele de Rossi and Paul Konchesky was competely nonplussed when he was red carded in stoppage time for a mistimed challenge on Rodrigo Taddei.

You cannot be happy in the face of injustice. I accept the decision because the referee makes the decision but I’m not happy.

I think the two red cards were very harsh. I didn’t speak to the referee. I only spoke to the fourth official.

To play in the second half with only ten men is a bitter pill to swallow. But what can you do but accept the referee’s decision because it doesn’t change anything.

It was a fantastic performance by my players in the first half. We have been better than Roma when playing 11 against 11 in both games.

Hodgson admits that the defeat has badly dented Fulham’s chances of qualifying from the group.

This defeat leaves us struggling in the group. Every time you get players sent off you have players suspended for three matches which means, at this rate, I would need to have a squad of 60 players.

Unfortunately, this defeat takes things out of our hands a little bit. We could win the last two games and still not qualify.

It has been an interesting experience. We will become stronger and bounce back.