SILVA BACKS WASTEFUL STRIKER

IT may have been a different story had Richarlison converted two gilt-edged chances which fell his way early in the second half. The Watford striker missed an open goal and sent a free header wide — both from close range — but boss Marco Silva refused to single out the Brazilian for the loss. Indeed, Silva preferred to praise his three-goal top scorer for getting in the box. ‘He deserves all the credit for getting in the right positions to score,’ said Silva. ‘Today he didn’t get the goals but if he gets the same chances next week he scores, I’m sure of that.’ Silva was gutted to leave west London with nothing. ‘It is a really unfair result,’ he said. ‘We controlled the game and Chelsea started to play on the counter attack. ‘In the second half for 40 minutes there was only one team playing on the pitch. After 2-1 we had clear chances to finish the match.’