Referee was ’embarrassed’ by decision – Silva
Fulham boss Marco Silva said it was “tough to understand” some of the decisions made during his side’s 3-1 defeat at West Ham.
Andreas Pereira had given Fulham the lead after five minutes with a superb strike, before Jarrod Bowen levelled from the penalty spot following a questionable decision for a foul on Craig Dawson by goalscorer Pereira.
Gianluca Scamacca then put the Hammers in front in the second half, despite a lengthy VAR check for a potential handball from the striker prior to the goal.
Michail Antonio struck a third goal late on but replays also appeared to show the substitute handling the ball prior to scoring, and Silva claims referee Chris Kavanagh was left “embarrassed” by the decision to allow Scamacca’s goal.
“It’s a difficult moment for the referee,” he said.
“For him, it’s tough to see as well. He was embarrassed, like myself, when he saw it on the screen. It’s difficult for him to say something more. The decision came from VAR.
“He has to respect that decision but I saw on his face when I spoke to him, he was embarrassed because he saw it on the screen. Everyone saw it as well.
“It’s another clear handball from Antonio in this situation. It’s tough to understand but I don’t want to talk, really, about the referee because I want to be on the bench for the next game.
“I told our players that, unfortunately, these type of things will happen. We have to show more maturity during some situations of the game when the pressure is coming.
“The penalty moment is a good example. The pressure from the ground in the first moment, second moment, when the referee spoke with Andreas as well.
“You have to show that maturity and let’s hope in this type of situation when the blocks happen in the opposition box, we will get some penalties for us I hope.
“But I’m sure, even after the penalty, that if we keep doing the same things we are doing, and do it as we have planned it, then the game will come again for us.”
Silva was without talisman Aleksandar Mitrovic, who went off in last weekend’s heavy defeat to Newcastle with a foot injury initially suffered while playing for Serbia.
He is hopeful Mitrovic will be available for the next game, against Bournemouth, but says it will depend on how the striker fares in training this coming week.
“Let’s see, we have to see day by day,” he said.
“We expected for him to be with us this afternoon but unfortunately the last two days he didn’t feel so well and of course we have to keep checking him, assessing him, and seeing when we can start working with him again.
“Unfortunately for us, he got the injury in the first game with the national team. Of course we had some doubts in that moment whether he would play or not in the second.
“Of course we checked with the medical staff, they were in contact as well, who told us the player was in a condition to start the second game.
“He played 90 minutes and of course after when he came in he tried, he did his best against Newcastle, but he wasn’t in the best physical condition.
“After the injury in the first game (for Serbia), it probably was not the best decision for him to start the second and play 90 minutes.
“But, okay, it was the decision and we have to respect it and then it’s up to us to keep making him better every single day, and to see if he’s ready for the next match.”
