Marco Silva slammed Fulham’s poor defending and lack of ruthlessness as the Whites’ nine-game unbeaten run went in smoke at West Ham this evening in a night self-sabotage at the London Stadium.
Silva’s side dominated the first half against West Ham United, but Graham Potter’s side held a two-goal advantage at the interval following a dreadful error from Andreas Pereira and sloppy defending that saw the visitors concede two goals as any many minutes. Their spirited attempts at a fightback were undermined by a poor pass out from the back by Bernd Leno that gifted the hosts a third goal shortly after Alex Iwobi had halved Fulham’s deficit.
Silva told his post-match press conference:
“We were punished by our mistakes. The way we lost the game tonight is our own fault, it’s clear. We came here from the first minute and took control of the game, creating enough chances to be leading the score. Of course, we made a mistake in our build-up and straight away they scored the second goal in our defensive transition.
I think it’s clear that the result didn’t reflect at all what both teams did on the pitch. The best team didn’t win the game, the team that created more didn’t win the game. But in football you need to be strong at both ends and we cannot make it so easy for the opposition to punish us.”
Silva bemoaned Fulham’s failure to take their chances as well.
“Of course, we were not clinical. Some moments we rushed the decision too much. We should have shown a different quality in certain moments in our attacking line. We scored two goals, hit the crossbar two times and had a chance with Raúl and Adama. I’m talking about six clear moments to score. But the biggest problem of the game was not that, it was that we gave two goals away to a team like West Ham playing at home and we have to analyse it like that.
“It’s a really disappointing night for us. It’s been a very good season so far for us but we should be in a different position because of the way we have been performing, the way we deserve more in the games. We are giving some goals away easily and games that we are so dominant in we should have won. But the reality is we didn’t and it’s completely our fault.”
What an awful display . Leno exceptionally major off day he cost the whites 2 goals but this playing around at the back has always been worrying . ESR … does he really even try ! Seems to walk around when others running . Has a few bursts then looks disinterested- he actually does not even seem to be part of the team dynamics .
We missed a chance again, can’t blame West Ham who were poor also, with so many injuries played without a striker we’re only going to score with our help boy did we help. Now getting worried about fees we paid for Andersen who looks sluggish and Smith Rowe both look way overpriced. King did more in little time he was on can’t be held back for over priced Smith Rowe
Why is Leno afraid to kick the ball upfield. Dont short pass when surrounded.
Dan good match summary-you got it spot on!
We got 1point from a very poor West Ham this year instead of an easy 6.
Mistakes at back ,midfield and upfront with all those chances wasted.
MARCO not good enough and hasnt been for many weeks.Plenty of work to do and people to go and better committed players in COYW
I think we made a mistake paying so much for Andersen. Can we please find a number 8 because Andreas Friggin Pereira aint it.
I would also like to see Iwobi swap positions with ESR for a bit. Maybe that might rejuvenate ESR a little.
Some times, you just have to KICK THE BALL!!!
What a waste of points….
Well Marco do you still think we don’t need to bring players in after this awful performance, we wasted so many chances and then gave them 2 goals on a plate it was always on the cards that Leno would do this as he always holds the ball too long and then gives a suicidal pass, as for Pereira take the money and run. ESR is useless and a waste of money and Andersen needs to start improving quickly. I said before the match that King should have been on from the start of the game he is better than Pereira and ESR and puts in twice as much work so why doesn’t Marco play him for the full 90 minutes.
I imagine that Silva is being careful not to overplay King. He has only just turned eighteen,is still only slightly built – not like Rooney at that age – and needs to be eased into the the team slowly.
Let’s hope he has a better sense of loyalty than some of our academy graduates as he is definitely an exciting prospect.
What does Traore give the team???Err nothing. Do you think Jay Stansfield would have missed those chances against City and that one against WHU? No.
WHU were clueless but we lost whilst completely outplaying them. Their 3 shots produced 3 goals due to defensive lapses 7 y.o kids would be embarrassed by. Two more important points:
– No one looks for ESR as an option and until that is resolved we are playing with 10 men. Defensively he is valueless.
– Our build up play is really strong until we get about 6 yards from the opposition box and then we often look like we are running blindfolded through treacle. We are not inventive enough in that space nor do we have sufficient numbers often enough. Resolve that and we will start to score 3+ goals regularly against the bottom 8 sides. Europe beckons still
I think Silva has to take a large share of the blame. Week after week he says we are not clinical enough and don’t take our chances so why is that still happening. Earlier in the season we were attacking at pace but now we don’t. Traore is only affective if he has space, not in a ponderous crowded midfield.
In fact we scored twice away from home and hit the crossbar twice and Leno is not likely to have such a poor game again this season, but Pereira and Smith Rowe are contributing nothing in the roles they have been given and week after week Silva changes nothing. Just as concerning is Andersen’s form, or rather lack of it. Silva must have the courage to drop him to the bench and play Cuenco or Diop. Hopefully if he discovers he’s not an automatic first choice it will concentrate his mind.
If I was a betting man I’d put money on us losing to Leicester and beating Man U.
The sooner Berge is back playing alongside Lukic the better. Such a shame he got injured just as he was beginning to find form and fitness. At least Silva can put Perreira back as a number ten which is his best position. Then if he gives the ball away it won’t automatically lead to a goal for the opposition.
Agree that Diop was unfairly dropped in favour of Andersen and should be back in the team on Saturday. We need three points then as we have a tough run of fixtures after that.
If Berg is fit play him along side Lukic. Then put either Perreira or King as the number 10 forget about ESR. Drop Andersen and play Diop. Just a thought play Muniz up front with Jiminez on the right The Team needs a good shake up. Also priority another goalkeeper to back up Leno. Benda is up to it