Jokanovic determined to fix Fulham’s defence
Slavisa Jokanovic has promised a summer rebuilding programme to end the glut of goals his Fulham side are conceding.
The Whites were beaten 3-1 at Craven Cottage by Nottingham Forest and have kept just one clean sheet in their last 34 matches in all competitions.
Jokanovic is particularly unhappy with the number of penalties his side have given away – Henri Lansbury’s was the 12th scored against Fulham this season – and the lack of concentration at set pieces.
“This is habit for us. It’s not strange for us conceding a penalty, it’s not strange conceding a goal after set pieces and these bad habits we don’t stop,” the Fulham head coach said.
“All the goals Forest score, if you are more clever, if you are concentrating, if you have a little bit more quality, you can stop it – 35 goals after set pieces, 12 penalties, nobody can accept these numbers.
“I have my plans. I am going to fight for players to stay, I’m going to fight for some players to go out of the club, I’m going to fight to try and build a team that I believe will be more competitive.”
Jokanovic admitted the half-time introduction of target man Matt Smith, with Fulham 2-0 down, was to ask different questions of the Forest defence.
But despite Smith scoring, Jokavovic was still unhappy with his side’s overall performance.
He said: “We didn’t show quality with the ball, we didn’t show quality without the ball.
“We scored the goal, we made some chances but generally right now we are very far off the way I want my team to play football.”
