Stuart Gray rued Fulham’s self-destructive habits after another frustrating defensive display left the Whites pointless at home to Ipswich.
Ross McCormack’s stunning free-kick was sandwiched by goals from Tractor Boys duo Freddie Sears and Brett Pitman. Sears’ strike came after just 17 seconds as he ghosted beyond a non-existent Cottagers backline to fire the visitors ahead.
And it was this early lapse in concentration which left Gray scratching his head in frustration.
The former Sheffield Wednesday manager said: “You don’t expect to go a goal down after 10 seconds. Sears just went through the players as if they weren’t there.
“What’s been happening at this football club far too often this season is going a goal down.
“For the second, we’re not marking correctly in the box, Pitman has gambled and suddenly we’re 2-1 and we’re chasing the game again.
“That was disappointing. The most important thing is the marking again in the box.”
The Whites have now gone eight matches without tasting victory, seeing them drop to lowly 17th in the Championship.
The poor run of form has also seen them utilise two managerial figures in that time, with Kit Symons’ departure leaving coach Peter Grant to fill in against MK Dons, Preston and Nottingham Forest.
But current incumbent Gray, who is filling in until a permanent head coach is found, has dismissed suggestions that the Whites are affected on the field by the uncertainty off it.
“The players can’t use that as an excuse, the only thing they can control is what happens when we go over that white line.
“Decisions upstairs will be made by the people in charge, our focus is on playing, I cannot fault the players application.
“The players are putting a shift in, at the moment they’re just not making the right decisions in the game.”
