A seething Marco Silva slammed Fulham’s failure to get going in both halves after his side were beaten 3-2 by Brentford in Monday night’s local derby.
The hosts could have been out of sight in the first fifteen minutes at the GTech Community Stadium, with Bernd Leno making two brilliant saves in the first five minutes before he was left helpless when Ethan Pinnock’s shot deflected off Tim Ream. Brentford hit the frame of the goal twice in quick succession after opening the scoring and, although Manor Solomon headed an equaliser, Fulham were undone again after a lethargic start to the second period.
Silva told his post-match press conference:
“[It was a] disappointing night for us, [a] disappointing performance as well. It was clearly our fault, we cannot play a derby away from home and start the way we started both halves. We knew how they are aggressive, how they can always punish you with their runs in behind, linking with the striker or even straight away in behind you.
We were sloppy the way we started the first half and we were sloppy again the way we started the second half. After the [first] goal we showed a reaction and the character to equalise and start to control the game. When they are winning, they sit back, they have all the team back, they put nine players around their box, so it’s not easy – even if you have the possession – to create chances. It’s a moment for us to learn and to improve from this situation. The players for sure are going to know during the week why the things happened in this way, and we have to improve for the next one.”
Silva also shared his surprise at Anthony Taylor awarding a second half penalty after Issa Diop caught Christian Norgaard as he attempted to clear a long throw,
“I think that penalty was a really harsh, harsh decision from the official. If it’s a VAR decision, I can understand it as it’s really hard to see a soft touch from the player. For him to say that straight away it’s a penalty, was a big surprise for me. It’s a really harsh decision, but even so, it was our fault”.
The penalty was harsh and changed the game if the self same incident happened at weekend how many times would it be given all the premiership games the answer is none.No players appealed.Apart from that the best team won need to improve by some distance for sunday
Brentford attacked and defended better than us apart from Solomon’s goal. Penalty was soft but Lukic was more than lucky to be still on the pitch. we haven’t played to our ability for the last few games. Teams like Brentford who defend that well with so many men behind the ball need to be drawn out and hit with quick breaks. Which is what they do.
Perriera is the big worry for me. Besides his free kick which led to the goal he offered very little. I know he tries hard and I want to see him do well but the game seems to go on around him and he cant find his way in to influence it.
Harrison Reed seems to be struggling as well.
Agree with the above comments,Totally agree with Silvas comments,we were never in the game apart from Solomon’s goal when I think how far we have come this season how we have been on a par with some of the bigger teams in this league last nights performance was unacceptable Memories of beating Chelsea then holding them to a draw great,Last night Reed was not in the game What role was Lukic playing and Perreira as commented before other than the free kick not in the game Robinson was quiet as well we were looking tired don’t know why maybe we need a bigger squad who knows we have got to have another plan when Palinha is not in the side and it showed last night how much we need him can’t play like that against Arsenal on Sunday or it will be deja vu
I knew after 3 minutes we were going to lose,why do we sit back and not get going at the start of both halves we have to go back to the way we were playing in the first half of the season,we need more energy and we have to press and attack much faster, Mitro seems to have lost his goal scoring and looks a shadow of himself and he is not the only one. We really miss Palhina and he has to try not to get any more suspensions, I think Cedric was a big mistake his defending is awful and I think we could have got someone better from the championship. None of our midfielder’s did their job and we got what we deserved Brentford were the better team by a mile.
Can someone please let me know why Ivan Toney is allowed to play not only by Brentford but also by the Premier League . Albeit that he still has his hearing to come he has already admitted misconduct and will be receiving a lengthy ban from the game
He is undoubtably a superb footballer but surely Premier League clubs have a responsibility for their player to set an example
Yes Great point Michael why is this man still able to play football the arrogance he is showing as well is he bulletproof or something young supporters look up to these stars he should receive a very long ban are Brentford going to get done as well? Probably not they will say we did not know points deduction?well done for highlighting this point all other Premiership clubs should asking questions about this