Referee’s decision not to award Fulham penalty was ‘incredible’ – Marco Silva

Marco Silva labelled referee Tim Robinson’s decision not to award Fulham a first-half penalty as “incredible” after Danny Ings’ late equaliser rescued West Ham a point from a 1-1 Premier League draw at Craven Cottage.

Ings struck deep into second-half added-time as both teams shared the spoils after Fulham’s Raul Jimenez opened his Premier League account for the season.

Referee Robinson waved off shouts for a foul on Adama Traore after he was slipped through on goal in the first half. Traore was brought down inside the area after a shove by Max Kilman.

Silva, who was handed a yellow card for his reaction, believes the decision should have been a penalty and a red card.

“It’s a clear penalty in my opinion, it’s incredible how it’s not a penalty so this is difficult to accept,” Silva said.

“I don’t have doubts. On the field I didn’t and after I don’t as well. When my player is sprinting one-on-one with the goalkeeper and someone pushes from behind, it’s almost impossible…it’s difficult to accept how the decision on the field was like that.

“It was clear for me and for you. We have to respect the decision but it had a massive impact in the game.

“If it’s a penalty, he should’ve been sent off, he didn’t try to play the ball. In that moment it’s a clear penalty and a clear red card.”

West Ham were second best for much of the match prior to Ings’ impact off the bench.

Julen Lopetegui credited his side’s fight which helped them bounce back from their 3-1 home defeat to Manchester City last time out.

“We showed fight and we ran a lot but we can do better and that’s my feeling,” Lopetegui said.

“I am happy for the reaction, the feeling and spirit of the team but we have to improve with the ball, we can do better.

“In the end it was black and white, we have a point.”

Ings’ goal came after Jarrod Bowen’s cross was met by the striker, whose powered effort saw Bernd Leno palm the ball into the side netting.

The equaliser marked the forward’s first league goal since March.

Lopetegui added: “I think he’s a good example. Ings more or less was out in the summer but he’s stayed and he worked very hard despite not playing – he’s a good example.”