Fulham boss Scott Parker admitted he was ‘gutted’ after the Whites’ relegation was finally confirmed following a meek 2-0 defeat by Burnley at Craven Cottage tonight.
Parker’s side had to win to keep their slim survival hopes alive but struggled to muster much of an attacking threat and went behind to Ashley Westwood’s opener ten minutes before half time. Chris Wood’s spectacular strike on the stroke of half time gave Fulham a mountain to climb and, although Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa rattled the bar after the break, the hosts never really looked like mounting a comeback.
A devastated Parker told the BBC after the final whistle: “It has been looming but it doesn’t hide the disappointment, hurt and sadness I feel tonight. It’s inevitable now. I am gutted. This year at times, while we have had some big improvements and pushed on in certain elements, the facts are that we have fallen short. We have not been quite good enough.
“Tonight is how the season has gone at times. Between the two boxes we did very well. The difference was defensively, the two goals we conceded were poor, and in the final moment when you need to score and make good decisions we did not have that.
“Probably when I look back over the season that has been the big difference. We have lacked quality in certain moments. The players need to understand what you need to bring at this level. There’s an effort and endeavour but you need to have more to survive at this level. This level is brutal. The tiny details are key.
“At this moment in time I have nothing but sadness. Now and in the coming days we will have a long hard think and regroup. My job is to make sure these games end in the right way.”
Parker conceded that Fulham will have to face up to some ‘tough decisions’ after their second relegation from the Premier League in three seasons before they begin preparing for the Championship next term.
“The club needs to make big decisions. We’ve had a relegation, a promotion and a relegation. The rollercoaster of that and the highs and lows is not something you want. As a football club we need to make good decisions and work out where we want to go.”