By TOM HOPKINSON at Craven Cottage
FULHAM boss Marco Silva slammed the second-half performances of his players and referee Peter Bankes as the Championship tabletoppers’ promotion bid stuttered.
Silva branded his side’s display after the break as “bad” and then claimed the official’s was “really bad” at the end of a game delayed by around 40 minutes following a medical emergency in the crowd.
Fulham had stormed into the lead as Aleksandar Mitrovic scored his 28th goal of the season in the sixth minute and they looked like they might open the floodgates on their visitors.
But then there was the delay and, once play resumed, Blackpool clawed their way back into the game and Josh Bowler, a former Fulham schoolboy, equalised early in the second half to earn his side a deserved point.
Silva said: “Definitely, the result was not good. It was a disappointing result.
“We didn’t start well, we started brilliantly, in the first 11 minutes against a team who changed everything to face us.
“We scored a really good goal and had great chances to score the second.
“Then, unfortunately, we had the break – and it was a really serious situation, so all our thoughts are with our friend.
“In the second half, we were then too slow and when you play slowly you give belief to the opposition.
“We have to do better and the way we conceded the goal was a lazy ball. But we are concerned about the ref as well – our second half was bad, but the second half from the ref was really bad.
“The way he managed the game – it was not a big decision, it was many, many, many small decisions.
“When there are 10, 20 of them, it’s difficult to understand.”
Silva was certainly right about his team, who grew poorer as the game went on
When Josh is in full flight, there aren’t many players in this league who can do what he can do. He has been brilliant for us
and credit to Blackpool for the part they played in that.
Boss Neil Critchley said: “I was really pleased with the point. We didn’t start well, which was my fault.
“I have to look at the messages I’d given the players in the week and how we’d coached them.
“We had a bit of luck in the second half ,but we grew into the game and I’ve nothing but praise for the players.”
His team all did well, but
Bowler stood out and no wonder Fulham, Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest have all been linked with moves for him.
Critchley (below) added: “When Josh is in full flight, there aren’t many players in this league who can do what he can do.
“I hope he is still our player on Tuesday — he was outstanding, he has been brilliant for us.
“If he stays, we’ll be delighted.”
Neeskens Kebano must take much of the credit for Mitrovic’s goal because his pass took out several orange shirts to pick out Fabio Carvalho’s dart into the box, and his cross made it easy for the big Serb.
Fulham went close when Blackpool’s Jordan Thorniley headed against his own post from 20 yards, but then at the other end Bowler hit the bar as well.
The woodwork again came to Blackpool’s rescue early in the second half as the impressive Carvalho struck a post.
But that was the Cottagers’ last genuine chance and Bowler’s solid side-foot finish on 57 minutes secured his side a point.