SILVA’S BAD DAY AT THE OFFICE
FULHAM boss Marco Silva slammed the second-half performance of his players and referee Peter Bankes as the Championship table-toppers’ promotion bid stuttered. Silva branded his men’s display after the break as ‘bad’ and then claimed the official’s was ‘really bad’ after a game delayed by 40 minutes because of a medical emergency in the crowd.
Fulham had stormed into the lead as Aleksandar Mitrovic scored his 28th goal of the season within five minutes and they looked like they might open the floodgates.
But once play resumed after the delay, Blackpool clawed their way back into the game and Josh Bowler (right), a former Fulham schoolboy, equalised early in the second half.
Silva said: “It was a disappointing result.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 some belief to the opposition.
“But we are concerned about the ref as well. It was not a big decision – it was many, many, many small decisions.”
Silva was certainly right about his team, who grew poorer as the game went on and credit Blackpool for the part they played in that.
Boss Neil Critchley said: “I was really pleased with the point.we didn’t start the game well, which was my fault.
“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.”
Bowler stood out, and no wonder Fulham, Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest have all been linked with him.
Critchley 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.” Neeskens Kebano’s superb pass to Fabio Carvalho played a key part in Mitrovic’s goal.
Blackpool’s Jordan Thorniley headed against his own post and Bowler hit the bar at the other end. Carvalho also hit a post but that was Fulham’s last real chance.