Fulham head coach Slavisa Jokanovic wants his players to take their hard work on the training ground into competitive games.
The Whites have improved considerably under Jokanovic but are still lacking consistency and were beaten 2-0 by promotion-chasing Middlesbrough last weekend.
Ahead of Saturday’s clash with Reading, the Head Coach said: “I cannot complain about training, it’s going very well. Now they need to implement it into games; make less mistakes, concentrate more and be more competitive.”
The Whites found themselves facing an uphill battle against Boro after falling 2-0 down inside the opening 20 minutes and Jokanovic conceded: “Middlesbrough were better than us, they were physically stronger and more solid.
Tactically they played a better team and technically they played with more passion. They punished us at the beginning of the game and we didn’t have enough power to get back in the match.
It’s not acceptable that the game was over after half an hour.”
The defeat saw the Whites slip down to 20th in the table, but Jokanovic is confident his side will be safe before the season is out.
“I try thinking step by step, I’m sure we’re going to avoid relegation,” he stated. “I haven’t made any calculations, I’m only thinking about what’s in front of us and that’s the Reading game.
“My focus is completely short-term. Of course, we’re thinking about the future but at the moment it’s more important to concentrate on the now.
Next season starts in August. We’ve had three depressing years which isn’t good enough for the Club and the supporters, but I’m excited about the job and the future.”
Saturday’s opponents Reading have won their last three league and cup games and are yet to lose at the Madejski Stadium in 2016.
Jokanovic is, therefore, expecting a tough test of his side’s credentials.
“They’re playing good football, they’re very organised and very fast,” said Jokanovic. “In the last month they played better football than before.
They had a great result last week [at Charlton Athletic] and are in the FA Cup Quarter-Finals.”
