Fulham head coach Scott Parker hits back at style of play critics after loss to Hull City

BY RICHARD CAWLEY

Scott Parker has hit back at claims that his Fulham side are too slow in their build-up play.

The west London side saw their promotion hopes dealt a setback as they lost 3-0 to Hull City today.

And it was not the kind of performance or result that the head coach wanted with owner Shahid Khan in attendance.

The expectation for this Fulham side was to be in the Championship title race but they do not even occupy a play-off spot after a lacklustre display at Craven Cottage.

“A lot of people say this team is a possession-based team and they lack an impetus,” said Parker. “We are top in this division for shots on goal and shots on target. So we are obviously doing something right. We’re getting the balls in the right area. No other team in this league is hitting the target more than us.

“I hear people say your possession pace is slow, we’re coming against teams [who sit deep] – although not so much the case, they came and had a right go and caused us a different problem.

“I can understand people’s opinion – not just how I want to play but the identity of this football team and how I feel is best to win football matches – if we weren’t creating chances, if we weren’t hitting the target. But you can’t back up that argument. Your argument to me is that it is slow, it is this or that – but we’re hitting the target more than any other team in the division.

“The finger has been pointed at me since the first game regarding it. We have the ball a lot and that’s the way I want us to play. Ultimately I feel if we carry on like that then it will turn for us, that’s the team I want us to be.

“I will stick with it – 100 per cent.”