Marco Silva admitted that Fulham’s failure to match their first half intensity was the reason they lost the SW6 derby at Craven Cottage this afternoon.
Alex Iwobi gave the Whites a 20th minute lead with a fine opener but Enzo Maresca’s half-time changes transformed Chelsea, who levelled through teenage substitute Tyrique George and clinched a crucial three points in third minute of stoppage time when Pedro Neto completed their comeback.
A sombre Silva told his post-match press conference:
“The second-half was not at our best level. My speech at half-time was clear for us to start the second-half like we started the first one. We tried to be on the front foot to boost ourselves, the crowd and unfortunately, we didn’t. It was less difficult for Chelsea and they took control of the game with the ball. Second-half, much more from Chelsea, but our first-half was much better than theirs. I really believe that the result is harsh, with the way we conceded the second goal. I think the draw would have been a fair result.
It was a very good first half from us – we executed the game plan really well. We controlled the first-half and we were clearly the best team. We mixed it really well, playing short from the back and then moments when we mixed it up. We knew about their man-to-man approach and I think we did really well to go over the pressure. It was a good goal from us and we had more moments around their box where we could have been more ruthless and created more clear cut chances.”
The Fulham boss also confirmed that Rodrigo Muniz failed a fitness test yesterday – having picked up a knock in the defeat at Bournemouth last Monday.
“Unfortunately for us he was injured. He got a tackle in the last game against Bournemouth. He wasn’t in perfect condition to train this week. We tried and we tested him yesterday, but he wasn’t in condition to be in contention.”
The slip ups were all yours Marco you made the wrong substitutes and as usual too late, Lukic and Tete shouldn’t have been subbed and Cairney and Vinicius aren’t good enough even a half fit Muniz would have been better, start giving our youngsters a game instead of sticking with players who are past their best , we aren’t going to Europe and we will probably lose to Southampton as well.
Used to seeing the inconsistency from game to game but this was something new. Inconsistency in two halves of a game. Poor Raul cut a very lonely figure up front in the 2nd half all by himself with no support. We just camped in our own half inviting pressure. First half was really good and we could have put the game to bed. We went down a level and they went up a level.
John B the most unrealistic and ungrateful supporter going. We are top ten in the Prem again. How many managers have or can give us that??
Have to take the rough with the smooth. Great first half performance but it isn’t a given we’d outplay the Chelsea billion £ team for 90 mins.
Who would you prefer as manager pal?
Need some perspective ffs
It completely mystified me why Lukic was taken off .He is our best all round mid field player and can break up attacks and is mobile. He was not booked Replacing him with Cairney who might as well not being on the field was utter nonsense. I concur give King and a couple of other youngsters a chance from the bench. Having Vinicius on the field is an insult to the fans. Great to to see Sess starting again and Tete at Right back until he was replaced. All round an excellent first half performance but we shot ourselves in the foot in the second half. I would have happily taken our points total at the start of the season but it could have been so much better if we had not lost so many points from winning positions. .Possibly the most in the division
In such an important game, if we are to salvage anything from this season and scrape into Europe, Marco Silva opted to, yet again, play square pegs in round holes.
I just don’t understand it but he prefers to play Sessegnon, a left back, as a right winger even though we had two “real” right wingers sat on the bench.
I’m an eternal optimist but I was hoping to see Adama Traore start the game and put the fear of God in Cucurella as he bore down on him but no such luck.
Ryan did really well for the goal but, apart from that, looked out of place.
Iwobi took the goal brilliantly, but, as with Sessegnon, did little else to help the cause. In the 2nd half, when we were under the cosh, we broke swiftly in one break but came to a complete stop because of Iwobi’s inability to take the fullback on, instead, opting to put his foot on the ball and our momentum disappeared.
When Robinson supported him, which happened on a number of occasions, his ineffective crosses into no man’s land or, even worse, his failure to beat the first man, was even more frustrating.
I am sick to death of people telling me how lucky we are to have him in our team and how no other fullback has created as many assists as Robinson. Even Silva, after wanting to substitute Robinson against Bournemouth, was talking about him in his pre-match presser as if he is the best left back in existence.
It’s months since Robinson created anything. For the record it was in the first week in February, away at Newcastle. He is out of form and has been for a long time. His clumsy attempt at a tackle set up the first for Chelsea and Robinson’s reaction said it all.
There’s not much we can do about it because if Silva likes you, then that’s it. It doesn’t matter how consistently poor a player performs, he will always get picked.
Pereira worked his socks off, putting himself about like a madman and earned 100% from me for effort. But a big fat zero for quality because his set pieces are abysmal. His free kick in the 2nd half was embarrassing. Surely to God, there is, at least, ONE other player who is better at finding a Fulham player from corners? Just ONE. That’s not a lot to ask.
Yet again, Silva dis absolutely nothing to stem the tide in the second half, after a half decent first half from us, even though creatively we offered nothing. Just like against Liverpool, he permitted Chelsea to build up a head of steam and dominate. Then, when he finally, decided to take action, he took off Tete and Lukic, probably the two better performers up to that point.
I can understand that Tete was, maybe, exhausted in his first start for months but swapping Lukic for Cairney???
And, when Traore finally got brought on, he was another square peg, expected to play on the left wing.
What’s with Berge never shooting when he is in favourable positions? He scored 13 goals for Sheffield United in his last season there but I can’t recall him even having a single shot this season.
Pluses? Not many. Tete proved, both offensively and defensively, that he is levels above Castagne-so it was good to see him back. Leno, without having to make any spectacular saves, was efficient and busy.
No Smith Rowe on the bench or, almost certainly, he would have made an appearance. So that’s a plus in my book.
One shot on goal in the entire game-just highlighting the lack of creativity in this team and there’s not a thing that we can do to address it until the summer transfer window.
Totally Gutted like everyone but Chelsea’s squad is valued at more than 2.5 times that of Fulham’s ! Marco is best manager we have ever had ( yes Roy too but times are harder now in the Premier League) . Maybe the substitutions did not work but seriously how can anyone have a go at TC and usually a good idea at this stage . We should be worried that Marco leaves not trying to have a go at him . The only real disappointment of season was the mega investment in ESR … it has not paid off . But You never know it could be like Bobby Zamora- his first season was crap and the fan base wanted to crucify him but then he became a fulham cult hero – I remember we were all singing his name as we walked towards Hamburg Stadium .. let’s see and ain’t over till it’s over ! COYW
Sometimes you just have to admit we were beaten by the better team as much as we hate them. As for the mega investment in ESR, like the rest of the team, he came from the bargain basement in Premier League terms. Marco has done wonders with the players he has at his disposal. Rememer we are still in with a shout for Europe.
Neeklass even Ipswich managed a draw with the Billion pound Chelsea team and it’s a shame we have so many fans like you who always keep quiet and never call it as you see it , read the other comments.