Scott Parker admits beaten Fulham got what they deserved

Posted Saturday, March 20, 2021 by PA

Scott Parker admitted Fulham did not deserve anything from the game as they missed the chance to move out of the relegation zone with a 2-1 home defeat to Leeds.

The Cottagers had the opportunity to move out of the Premier League’s bottom three for the first time since December, but it was Leeds who ended their misfortunes in the capital with an entertaining three points.

Patrick Bamford responded to his omission from the England squad with a 29th-minute opener and though Fulham’s Joachim Andersen got the equaliser with his first goal for the club, Raphinha slotted his sixth league goal of the season past goalkeeper Alphonse Areola for Leeds’ winner.

Scott Parker admits beaten Fulham got what they deserved — Raphinha, left, and Patrick Bamford scored Leeds’ goals (Andy Rain/PA)

“I’m disappointed,” the Fulham manager said after the game.

“I don’t think we deserved anything out of the game today really, I think the better team won.

“We struggled at times – the one thing you don’t want against Leeds, in terms of the intensity and the game, you don’t want the game to become a bit of a basketball match and at times I thought we struggled.

“The pressure they put you under, you need to make good decisions and we struggled at those moments. In saying that, we get ourselves back in the game at half-time at 1-1 and looked a threat on set-plays.

“Then second half, goals change games and we missed a massive chance to put ourselves ahead at 2-1 and then 20-odd seconds later we’re picking the ball out of our net to go 2-1 down.

“There’s not many times this year that I’ve stood there after a defeat or after a draw and felt that we didn’t deserve more from the game but tonight, definitely we need to improve from where we were tonight and didn’t deserve anything from that.”

Marcelo Bielsa’s men had lost all five of their games in London this season and were winless in all 15 visits to the capital under his management, losing 13.

Despite Bamford’s goal, the Leeds boss did not believe the forward went out on to the Craven Cottage pitch with a point to prove to England.

“I don’t think he had that spirit, I imagine, I don’t know,” Bielsa said after the game.

“I think like every player he plays to be picked but I don’t think he had the spirit to prove them wrong and the fact that he was considered has a lot of value already. And perhaps the time that’s left will present another opportunity.”

Bamford had been a doubt for the game with an injury, with the manager praising his work ethic.

“He made a very big effort, and I saw him play a very valiant game and I saw him play well, generous apart from that,” he said.

“He also helped facilitate his team-mates having chances and I saw him play in a very valiant manner.”