Marco Silva insisted that referee Darren Bond’s performance ‘was not at a Premier League level’ after he didn’t send off Leif Davis for hacking down Harry Wilson in the first half of Fulham’s 2-2 draw with Ipswich Town this afternoon.
The Portuguese head coach was baffled both that Davis only received a yellow card for fouling the Welsh winger as he burst through on goal and that Bond needed the VAR’s intervention to award Fulham’s first penalty – for another foul on Wilson by Sam Morsy. Speaking to the BBC after the final whistle, Silva said:
“It was a difficult game, like almost all of the Premier League. A very good first thirty minutes from us. We started the game on the front foot, created a good number of dangerous moments and we probably should have done that with more tempo, intensity and moved the ball more quickly. We were in control in the first thirty minutes, a great header from Raul, and there should have been a red card for the tackle on Harry Wilson. This is something we cannot control. The performance of the referee was not at a Premier League level. In my opinion, there were many decisions that were not correct – VAR helped with some decisions, but unfortunately for us not with the tackle that should have been a red card.
I said we had a good first thirty minutes but you cannot concede a goal in that way. The first time that they got in and around our box they scored. We know that they have quality players to do that – but we should have done better in that moment. In the last fifteen minutes of the first half, we lost a bit of emotional control and we were not at the level that we were before. Second half, we changed – we put Emile in and we put two strikers on and introduced Andreas Pereira and Adama Traore as well.
The team fought hard, we scored to make it 1-1 and unfortunately for us we made another mistake that gave them the penalty. It has been a little bit our image [lately]. Last week, we gave the ball away and Bournemouth scored to make it 2-2. If you keep doing this, it is more difficult to win football matches. The team fought hard and we should have won the game. When you are on the front foot, you should kill them, you should punish them with goals. We didn’t and we made mistakes that gave them the hope that they could get something from the game.”
The Fulham boss also heaped praise on Raul Jimenez, whose two perfect penalties eventually rescued a point for the Whites. The veteran striker became the Premier League’s leading Mexican goalscorer – moving ahead of Javier Hernandez with his timely brace and Silva was keen to highlight more than just his goals.
“It’s an incredible achievement. I’m really pleased for him because we all know he had a really bad moment [the serious head injury sustained when Jimenez was at Wolves], not just in his career but in his life. He was really down when we signed him, but we showed trust in him and it’s paying off.
The first two or three months at the club, he was not scoring and everyone was asking why we took the decision to bring him into the football club. We kept trusting him, he kept working really hard and it’s so nice to see him achieve an incredible number. It’s an honour for him to achieve these numbers and he will be in Premier League history for many, many years. Let’s hope there’s much more to come from him and I’m here to help him.
It’s not just the goals today. The way he won fouls; the way he was always there to help the team. We changed his position in the second-half and he did really well. Let’s hope he can get even more confidence in the future.”
Silva’s right!!! The ref spent the early part of the game by constantly penalising Lukic everytime he went near the ball. Then the incident with the yellow card that should have been red. Harry was travelling at such speed he would certainly been through on goal. Then the hand ball in the area. VAR said the defenders hand was by his side. Rubbish he actually patted the ball down.
The 1st Fulham penalty. Didn’t Tom Cairney get a red card at Spurs for that type of tackle. Why did the ref. not see it, why did he not consult the linesman or is he blind too.
Anyway rant over. Raul had a brilliant game all over the pitch and it was great to see him given the penalty taking duty. Mistakes from Bassey, Andersen and Diop have cost us dear in the past 2 games. Surely Cuenca deserves a start after his debut at Liverpool where he was 2nd in the Man of the Match vote. If Marco wants to play Jedi further up the pitch, Cuenca also plays left back.
Anyway 8 games unbeaten earning 12 points. At the start of December we wouldn’t have expected that!!
Easy to blame the ref for poor decisions, it takes away from the truth: we are struggling to create at home.
I agree that the ref was very poor, from the very first minute when Delap clattered Lukic, BUT Marco Silva’s tactics were poor in this game.
As much as three central defenders was a great ploy away to Chelsea, it is the wrong approach for a home game where we will be on the offensive for 75% of the game.
As well, with all of our main three committing errors in the last two games, are they really that reliable?
Playing Robinson as, virtually, a left winger, though I can understand the reasoning, simply doesn’t work. He is effective when he is on the run, not from a standing position.
We need a wide left player, somebody who can attack the fullback on the outside.
Apart from amazing, defence splitting passes, or perfectly targeted crosses onto the head of our striker, neither of which we seem to possess, going on the outside is the only way to beat teams like Ipswich.
It seems that most teams know that we will struggle to break them down at home and set themselves up accordingly.
We need a solution.
I don’t think Marco does himself any favours with comments like this. We all know that refereeing standards are too low but VAR can help as it did with our first penalty. This referee did not lose us the game – the problem was our inability – again- to break down teams that park the bus. More pace and midfielders getting into the box are what’s needed.
Yes the ref might have sent their LB off but it was one of those 50/50s. Not nailed on by any means. For sure Marco would have been incensed if a Fulham defender had been sent off for a similar tackle.
I totally agree Charles, we do well against the top teams because they come and attack us and we hit them on the counter with the pace of Robinson and Traore used as it should be. Robinson is one of the best attacking left backs in the Premiership so use him in that position.
We struggle against teams in the lower half of the table because passing the ball backwards and forwards across the edge of the penalty area at a leisurely pace doesn’t work against packed defences.
Cuenca certainly should be playing, Andersen seems to be struggling for form since he came back from injury/suspension and isn’t at the level he should be at the moment, Bassey with saving tackles and his strength and energy, and Diop with the number of balls he has won in the air from set pieces have more than made up for their occasional mistake which all players make in every position so a difficult decision who to leave out. I think I’d start Cuenco and Bassey for the time being.
We definitely did not play well, as per usual, against a team in the lower reaches, that doesn’t alter the fact that we were also playing the referee, who was truly atrocious. Refereeing decisions like this always life the offending team. If either the of the incidents had been correctly awarded it would have been game over. As it was we, naturally lose that bit of momentum and the opposition are emboldened.
The benefits of VAR yet again brought into question. The deaf, dumb and blind kid needs some help.
Have agree with William, Andersen looks a bit of his game.
Jimenez had his best game ever for us and his penalties were things of beauty. What was Marco thinking of by insisting Pereira took them. A decision beyond logic.
Pereira yet again contributed nothing. For Christ sake take the money.
Apologies for the typos in the above. Must proof read and not rely on the accuracy of my fat fingers.
Why do we always play so slow and keep passing sideways instead of moving the ball forward at pace against teams in the bottom 3 , we need another right back who can put decent crosses in the box Castagne isn’t good enough, Periera isn’t any better with his corners or free kicks, i would like to see Cuenca given a start instead of Andersen and King instead of Periera . Come on Marco it’s time for a change we should be winning these games easily.
Why is no one saying that as long as Cairney is playing our tempo and intensity on the ball is snail slow? I get it that he is a legend at the club, but just like Ream, when the time comes you must accept that you are not helping the club but rather hindering it. Both Cairney and Reed need to go have a good time in the championship where they would be class. Unfortunately, if we want to progress on the Premier league, we must admit that for some of the players who served the club so well in the past, they cannot keep up with the level anymore.