Marco Silva did not hold back after Fulham fell 2-1 to Crystal Palace in a fiery London derby at Craven Cottage, and the Portuguese manager has now dropped a major post-match bombshell—suggesting key officials played a huge part in Palace taking what he believes were “undeserved” three points.
Palace snatched the win late on through Marc Guehi’s towering header, but Silva insists Fulham were denied a legitimate second goal and robbed of game-changing momentum in a contest he felt his team controlled for long periods.
The Fulham boss revealed what was discussed behind closed doors in the dressing room at half-time, and his quotes painted a picture of deep irritation at VAR’s role in the defeat.
“We spoke at half-time, things to adjust on and off the ball, and the main thing was for us to try to start with a bit more energy, going forward quicker, and to not give them the chance to organise quickly at the back again.
“And we started well, that is true. We scored the goal – the way it was disallowed has to be a big frustration for us, probably the nail of Samuel Chukwueze is too big right now. It is what it is.
“It was difficult for us: a great goal from ourselves was disallowed. We kept the control of the game, but not with that intensity, that energy we spoke about last game to create from one side to the other.”
The disallowed goal in question came when Alex Iwobi’s header cannoned off the post before Emile Smith Rowe reacted quickest to score. But VAR intervened, claiming Chukwueze was marginally offside in the build-up. Fulham fans inside Craven Cottage erupted in disbelief, and Silva’s fury was visible on the touchline.
His frustration didn’t end there. Silva also hinted that Palace benefited from another major refereeing decision—one he believes should have gone Fulham’s way at the other end.
The match had seen several tight calls: Nathaniel Clyne’s collision with Joachim Andersen at the edge of the box, Palace’s appeals for a penalty waved away, and Wilson’s stunning equaliser moments earlier. But the Fulham manager believes those decisions built into a pattern that handed Palace a lifeline.
Despite Fulham pushing forward, Palace struck late. Guehi’s header sent the away end into chaos and lifted Oliver Glasner’s side into the Premier League’s top four—a position the Austrian had spent weeks downplaying, insisting his side were “not thinking about European spots.”
But Silva was adamant the story of the match should centre on VAR, not Palace’s performance.
Fulham stay 15th after another narrow defeat, and their fans will feel hard done by the decision which went there way and pushed Palace to pick up all 3 points.
Silva, meanwhile, has made it crystal clear who he believes really decided the outcome at Craven Cottage… and it wasn’t Crystal Palace.