Stuttering Fulham have to keep bubbly on ice as form team Forest win at Craven Cottage

Fulham’s stutter to the finish line continued on Tuesday night as they suffered a third Championship defeat in their last five matches.

The west Londoners have already confirmed their Premier League berth for next season but have taken just seven points from their last six games. Poor decision-making from Whites centre-back Tim Ream and keeper Marek Rodak saw Philip Zinckernagel muscle in to bundle home the only goal in the 15th minute.

Fulham get another opportunity to seal the title in front of their home fans on Monday against fifth-placed Luton Town – although second-placed AFC Bournemouth have to win at Blackburn tomorrow to stand any chance of catching them.

Rodak’s part in the Forest winner was unfortunate timing after he had been quoted in the Slovakian press spelling out that he would not be prepared to lose the number one spot in the Premier League again.

Fulham signed Alphonse Areola on loan from Paris Saint-Germain last time around and the Frenchman was one of their standout performers despite the club’s relegation.

“Marek has to be fully focused on this season, nothing more,” was Silva’s blunt response when asked about Rodak’s comments.

Silva, who has been charged by the FA after his sending off during Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Bournemouth, was left unimpressed by his side’s display in midweek.

“We didn’t perform at our best level at all,” he said. “I don’t see reasons to be under pressure.

“It’s the best pressure you can have as a football player and as a manager – to play to get promotion and to play to get the title.

“To be champions of a competition is the best pressure you can have. If you can’t deal with this pressure then something is wrong. Of course we have to live, as a group, with this pressure and work on it.

“If you let the game be unbalanced, you won’t be better than most teams in the division. First half we didn’t do that, the game was unbalanced. It’s happening more at home, like Coventry.

“It wasn’t a good performance at all. We didn’t have enough patience to play in our way.”