Marco Silva slammed the decision making of referee Rob Jones after Fulham’s five-match winning run ended at Newcastle United this afternoon.

The Fulham head coach had no issue with the match officials ruling out Aleksandar Mitrovic’s penalty after the Serbian striker struck the ball twice, having slipped as he took the spot-kick, but was enraged that both the referee and his video assistant failed to penalise Dan Burn for pulling back Andreas Pereira in the box seconds earlier.

Silva, who was booked after the final whistle for remonstrating with the referee, felt that Burn – a former Fulham defender – could have been sent off for his foul and his mood was not improved when Alexander Isak headed in the winner in the ninetieth minute. He told his post-match press conference:

“I have to mention the moment of the penalty. Not because we missed, it can happen. I have to mention the decision of the referee and VAR. It’s difficult for us to understand – two clear decisions in the box and it’s difficult to believe the referee can’t see one.

The decisions this afternoon were almost always against us. It’s clear this afternoon the referee didn’t have his best day. It’s difficult to understand how the referee and then the VAR missed it. It should be a penalty and red card for the player. The player pulled Andreas, it’s a clear penalty and red card. It’s a clear mistake from the referee first and the VAR second. [If Burn] is sent off we can win, we can lose. But the game will be completely different from that point, it’s clear for all of us.”