Marco Silva felt his Fulham side created enough chances to beat Derby at Craven Cottage, but the Whites couldn’t find the killer instinct in front of goal.
The Fulham head coach told his post-match press conference after tonight’s stalemate:
“In the first half we were a little slower than normal, in our build-up, but we created more than enough to win the game. We hit the post, someone cleared it off the line, big saves from the goalkeeper, but unfortunately, we didn’t score.”
Fulham were without top scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic and captain Tom Cairney through illness, Silva explained.
“Mitrovic and Cairney are both ill. Even some of the others like Harrison, Bobby, Antonee and Harry had some problems these past few days. Bobby was on the bench, just because if we needed him, he’d try and help. We had six or seven players in this situation.
Rodák is in a really strange situation. They said he had contact on the plane with someone who had COVID. If the game was two days later, he could’ve played, but there’s a protocol, and we respect the situation.”
Silva refused to blame Brazilian forward Rodrigo Muniz for Fulham’s failure to break Derby down.
“Muniz had some moments, some not so good. He’s a young boy, but hungry to learn and improve. We know he can score if our game from out wide is good enough. He had some chances in the second-half, sometimes he should’ve made a different decision, but that’s football. He did everything and tried everything and we go again.”
These kind of games are bound to happen unfortunately during the course of a long hard season.
Thankfully, we didn’t lose as this is the kind of game we could well have lost in previous seasons.
We are still top and we know we are capable of so much more.
I guess we are just expecting too much lately given the style of some of our performances.
All credit to a Derby team that battled valiantly throughout and had their chances first half.
Most teams would have given up the ghost given their perilous situation.
Let’s hope we can recapture some sparkle against Preston
We could stay there all night and the ball wouldn’t find the back of the net… Move on, still top of the table. Let’s do better against Preston!!! COYW
Derby defence was magnificent with so many last ditch tackles with the experience of Jagielka and Davis shining through including a miraculous clearance off the line with the ball only half way over and a tall confident keeper. These things happen and lost points against Bristol City, Reading and now Derby the woodwork was a crucial extra defender on multiple occasions in each of those games.
How many times has Mitro scored the 1st goal which means the opponents have to open up to try and level making it easier for our other players to score? Get well soon Mitro.
Sorry I don’t buy the excuse Mitro and Cairney were ill, that was 2 points dropped and now is not the time to start resting our best players, our backup players are just that, should not change a winning team just to keep other players happy they have to prove themselves in training.
John B why complain about resting players? If they’re unwell then the reserves have to come in, that’s why we have a squad. The Derby game was just one of those nights when the ball wouldn’t cross the line. Bournemouth drew too so nothing lost, we’re still top.
A reluctance to shoot in favour of an extra pass not helpful. Our best move ending with Muniz bicycle kick deserved a goal. The Derby timewasting last 15 a disgrace and not refereed by Stroud. The four minutes added was spent with a Derby bloke seemingly glued to the pitch. Stroud added no time on. A poor performance like his other game v Middlesbrough. Makes it up on the hoof.
Too many players failed to turn up. We were slightly ponderous in the first half. 2nd half a little bit better.
Tosin had a poor game with bad distribution. Luckily Ream had an excellent game. He held the back 4 together.
Kebano should have scored al least 2.
But all said and done we didn’t lose any ground points wise. Plus we all have dodgy days at work.
John B
What planet are you on?
In fact I will answer for you. You’re on a wind up!
Moving on, we played well given the circumstances with Ream at the back absolutely outstanding and Carvalho showing he can stand up to tough treatment
I agree with others, it’s a game in previous seasons we could have lost. We could have played all night without scoring…if its better distribution you want then Hector and Bryan are better at it but don’t defend quite as well. A case of one pass too many in the final third was evident, but we hit woodwork and had several clearances off the line so we shouldn’t worry just yet.