Fulham manager Marco Silva blamed a lack of winning mentality and individual errors for his team’s stumble at home to Coventry, when a win would have left them just three points from promotion.
Fulham trailed at half-time thanks to goals from Michael Rose and Viktor Gyokeres (a set piece and a goal error, respectively) and, although they pulled one back thanks to substitute Bobby DeCordova-Reid, Callum O’Hare made sure the victory that Coventry deserved with a Goal in added time.
It was the first time this season that a team had doubled over the Cottagers.
“At this level it is difficult, but the winning mentality is based on focus, concentration at all times and this afternoon we lost the game due to individual errors,” Silva said.
“It was not tactical. All the chances they had came from individual mistakes and when you make these mistakes at this level, it’s easy for them to create chances.”
He denied his players felt any additional pressure with promotion on the horizon and insisted they would go to the Derby on Friday hoping to move within three points of their target.
“I see no reason to have more pressure today,” he said. “I’m not sorry. I hope our players don’t feel it either. It’s our job, the pressure is normal. We have to enjoy it a little bit, accept the challenge and show the mentality every time, the right mentality at certain moments.
“I am confident that next Friday we will go to Derby and fight for the three points and be better than Derby and do our best to win the game.”
Coventry boss Mark Robins was full of praise for his team’s courage in taking the game to Fulham and facing the attacking power of the home team.
“Today lived up to the performances of the season,” he said.
“It was the first time we beat a top 10 team away from home, never mind a team that is going to be champion, so it should give us confidence and trust. But the way we play, with the bravery, the courage and the quality that we show, we create chances from the quality that we show and we take them.
“The placement of our defenders was very good against the top striker in the Championship. We kept them at bay until the 82nd minute and had the confidence to go out again.
“There was no panic at the baseline or in midfield. We were outstanding and we had to be against the top team. They put real quality into the frame, but the way we handled it was brilliant, not just the three points, but also the performance.”
Enjoy your first month for only £1 / $1 / €1
* Read 5 free articles per month without subscription
