Fulham boss wanted more bravery on ball as they lose to 10-man Manchester City

Marco Silva wants to see Fulham be braver on the ball after their 2-1 defeat against Manchester City on Saturday afternoon.

Erling Haaland’s 95th-minute penalty won City the game after Andreas Pereira had cancelled out Julian Alvarez’s opener.

Silva said: “They started the game better than us. I would like to see our team be braver on the ball in the first half, in some moments.

“The goal, the first goal we conceded, is a clear one. We started well in that moment but in that situation we gave them the chance to make a good transition and play through the lines in that moment.

“Of course, after we equalise the game and with the red card that came, it gave us more balance. We knew that on the ball it would not make a big difference to them because they have the quality and they changed the way to build with three at the back instead of four, and after the attack line it would not make a big difference for them on the ball.

“Off the ball, if you show the capacity to keep more of the ball ourselves and to be more brave, of course it will be tough for them.

“We did that with not enough quality to create more problems for them. Second half, we tried to show more quality on the ball in some moments. Some moments we did, others not at the level that I would like to see, but we have to know the quality that is on the other side.

“I believe in the moment they score and the last 30 minutes, even with Haaland and Foden on the pitch, apart from the offside goal, we have controlled the game well in that moment.

“There was not really a big chance for them but it’s true that we didn’t create many as well. We have a great chance with Harry Wilson, if he is more calm in that moment then one more touch he would be one-on-one with Ederson.

“That moment is one for us to be more ruthless and to score in that situation, I would like to see more quality in our final third, but of course it’s difficult against City at the Etihad.”