Marco Silva wants ‘a reaction’ from his Fulham players when they take on promotion-chasing Luton Town after a poor recent run of form.

The Cottagers clinched promotion with a 3-0 win over Preston North End ten days ago, but have failed to win since having been denied three points at Bournemouth by Dominic Solanke’s stoppage-time spot-kick and beaten by Nottingham Forest on Tuesday. Silva knows the Hatters will be looking to consolidate a play-off spot, as his told his pre-match press conference this afternoon:

“Tough game. The game we had on Tuesday was a good example, they are still fighting, they are doing everything at more than 100 per cent sometimes. Nottingham Forest is a good example, and it will be the same against Luton.

They will come here to match us and look to get the points, because they need the points. But we want and need the points as well. We are going to look at ourselves. I am not happy with the last results at all, our players aren’t as well, and we have to show a reaction. It doesn’t matter who we play, we have to show a reaction because the number of defeats in the last few games is not a normal thing for us.”

The Portuguese head coach highlighted the opportunity for his players to create history with a win that would seal the Championship title.

“Definitely on Monday. Believe me, I would prefer to do it on Monday. That Tuesday night we had against Preston, the way we did it, the way we won, the way everyone celebrated in the stadium, the three points and the promotion, we would like to repeat it again because it was a special night and we would like to have a special evening again on Monday.

Something I can control and we can control as a team is our game, so I would definitely prefer Monday. It’s a club that doesn’t have a lot of titles. Great history, but not a big number of titles. And of course if we can do it, it will be an important statement for us as a group. As a group of players, staff, and as a club as well.”