'We had the chance' - Marco Silva criticises Newcastle's tactics following 1-0 defeat at Craven Cottage

It was a disappointing defeat at Craven Cottage with Fulham offering all the opportunities to go on top in the opening 45 minutes. Antonee Robinson and Alex Iwobi provided plenty of crosses into the goal for their teammates to hammer home but it was not to be and Bruno Guimaraes proved to be the difference after he powered a loose ball from the top of the box into the back of the net and Eddie Howe’s side reigned victorious.

Speaking after the match, Marco Silva was full of admiration for his side’s first-half display and while he admitted the Cottagers needed to do more to break past the Newcastle defence, the Portuguese manager also criticised the opponents alleged tactics regarding feigning injury.

“We had the chance”, Silva lamented. “We had a very good first half, just lack of better definition and attack. During the first half the way we pressed them, we pushed them and they were really struggling. We should have scored one or two goals at least and if that type of things happen, it’s of course impossible to guess what will happen. It’s important to be clinical when you create so many chances.”

Silva does, however, believe that fault is not purely in Fulham’s dressing room with Howe’s squad being told from the bench to go down arguably more than required. The Magpies goalkeeper Martin Dubravka appeared to be in severe discomfort throughout the first half but was met by little sympathy from the Craven Cottage fanbase.

When asked whether he thought the returning injury crises were tactical, the Portuguese boss said: ”Yes it was tactical. The first one is clear, they gave the feedback for the goalkeeper to go down. It is something that is allowed, if the goalkeeper is down the referee has to stop the game. No way for the game to keep going but it was a tactical decision from them. It is what it is. 

Newcastle tried to break our momentum with the goalkeeper twice. Players on the grass always trying to break that momentum. They were struggling in that moment.”

Following a string of three disappointing results, including two defeats and a draw to Sheffield United, Silva was also questioned over whether he believes 13th place in the Premier League is the correct placement for the Cottagers.

“August, September October everyone was saying Fulham didn’t have the chances again it was going to be the second season syndrome”, he replied. “Losing our best goal-scorer and we wouldn’t find a way to score goals. 

“We were able to create a really strong side, to make the Cottage our Fortress again and the last five months no-one is talking about Fulham to get relegated. If you want to ask me in a different way, in terms of budget, if the position we are in right now is above the budget we have then I have to say yes. Any clubs that are below us, they spend much more money than us, they have much more power than us in the market. 

“Analysing our ambition, what we are capable to do, I really believe we can climb up the table. We have showed what we can do. Newcastle built a squad to be in Champions League, they competed in Champions League, but in first half I didn’t see any difference.”

With three home games left to go, Silva has insisted his side will place no more importance when taking on title-chasing Liverpool and Manchester City than when the Cottagers face Crystal Palace.

“Liverpool or City”, Silva continued. “We have to bring the same importance as Palace or the next one is going to be West Ham for us. We want to make this place a Fortress for us. Now is the moment for us to talk about West Ham and prepare for West Ham.”