NOT UP TO THE MARC
Silva angered by match officials
By HECTOR NUNNS at Craven Cottage
FULHAM boss Marco Silva was left raging at the officials after seeing his league leaders blow a chance to go nine points clear.
The promotion favourites were stunned at Craven Cottage by inform Huddersfield who made it 15 games unbeaten with goals from Danny Ward and a Duane Holmes penalty.
A late strike from Bobby Decordovareid was no consolation, but a furious Silva criticised Tony Harrington for the award to the Terriers when
Sorba Thomas was felled by Marek Rodak.
And he was equally livid that no penalties came Aleksandar Mitrovic’s way – and then at the death what looked a 94thminute handball by Jon Russell from Tosin Adarabioyo’s header.
Silva (inset), who was booked in the second half, also darkly hinted at a vendetta from referees against 31-goal top scorer Mitrovic.
He said: “The penalty they got is difficult for me to talk about, it is never a penalty and a clear mistake from the referee. The player fell on Marek.
“It is such an easy decision, and it made a big impact on the match. It is hard to understand.
“And if that is a penalty, then in the second half we should have three or four.
“I know for Mitro for these type of penalties they will not give for sure. “If he falls down on the goalkeeper, I am 100 percent sure it will not be a penalty.
“I don’t want to talk about Mitrovic in the second half, because I know even if it is a penalty they will not give it.
“There is a clear handball in the box at the end from Toisin’s header that the referee, in a perfect position, didn’t see.
“I spoke to the referee after, but I had to be careful. He said you speak more, you get a red card.
“We made a big mistake for their first goal, and that helped them be more confident making things more difficult for us.”
The Terriers, never here as cannon fodder, took the lead just past the half-hour.
After Ward’s first shot Harry Toffolo won it back.
He and Holmes exchanged passes, before Tom Cairney gifted the ball back to Ward whose shot went through Rodak for an 11th goal of the season.
And it got worse for the leaders before half-time.
Lewis O’brien crossed “Our players had to show from the left, the ball a big personality, attack deflected behind a dozing perfectly, and then defend Tim Ream – allowing perfectly.
Thomas to nip in. “The mentality shown
The winger collided was key. I put this win in with Rodak – and Holmes context, we are playing beat the goalkeeper from against the best team in the spot. the league and away from
Delighted Terriers boss home – so you can’t be Carlos Corberan said: more excited than that.”
FULHAM: Rodak 5; Williams 5, Ream 5, Adarabioyo 6, Robinson 5; Chalobah 5 (Reed 76, 6), Cairney 5 (Kebano (60, 6); Wilson 5 (Cavaleiro 76, 6), Carvalho 6, De Cordova-reid 6; Mitrovic 6.
Subs not used: Gazzaniga, Tete, Hector, Seri.
HUDDERSFIELD: Nicholls 8; Turton 8, Pearson 8, Lees 7, Toffolo 8; Russell 7, Holmes 8 (Sinani 76, 6), Hogg 7; Thomas 7 (Sarr 86), Ward 8 (Rhodes 85), O’brien 8.
Subs not used: Chapman, Koroma, Ruffels, Eiting.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Lee Nicholls. Hard to single out any Terrier, but he stood up superbly to a late barrage.
REFEREE: Tony Harrington 6.