JOK HAPPY WITH REAM SHOOTING FROM LIP

FULHAM boss Slavisa Jokanovic has backed Tim Ream after the defender claimed that some of his team-mates might not be up for a relegation battle.

The Cottagers have won only once this season and have conceded a Premier League-worst 25 goals. Today‘s visitors Bournemouth knocked four past Watford in their previous away game.

After last weekend’s 4-2 defeat at previously-winless Cardiff Ream (above) admitted ‘those outside the club are questioning do we have the fight, do we have the grit, do we have the determination? At this moment I’d have to say no. There are not enough guys who want it, who want to fight for each other, for themselves, for the club.”

But Jokanovic refused to criticise the American, who was Fulham’s player of the season in 2017-18 as they won promotion in the play-off final.

“I understand he wanted to encourage the team to push harder and look for more determination,” Jokanovic said. “I didn’t interpret them as negative words.

“He wanted to say, ‘Come on lads, it’s not enough, you must do more and be better. We must push harder, on the players’ side, on the staff’s side, for all the sides, for finding improvement.’

“Tim is always positive, and tried to encourage the team, our club, our supporters, to trust in ourselves, be brave and believe we can offer different afternoons in Craven Cottage.