Fulham v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[Toronto Villa]

Lambert: "But as a team, we were short. We never got going."

The closest thing to an honest opinion about us that we a going to get. He mentioned their penalty obviously and the one denied us.

[eastie]

Paul Lambert post-match.





Paul Lambert accepted fully that Villa weren't at their best at Fulham - but bemoaned two penalty decisions that had a big impact on the final scoreline at Craven Cottage.

Fulham were awarded a first half spot-kick by referee Mike Dean when Leandro Bacuna was adjudged to have fouled Alex Kacaniklic.

But he waved away strong claret and blue protests in the second half when Gabby Agbonlahor was upended in the box by Aaron Hughes.

Lambert felt the referee got both decisions wrong and also spoke of his unhappiness with the official's general performance on the day.

He said: "I don't think we played as well as what we have been.

"But I still think some the decisions out there went against us. In terms of penalty decisions, I thought the Fulham one wasn't and ours was. That's me being honest.

"I didn't think it was a penalty for Fulham. I have just seen it again on the monitor.

"The game is in the balance. The lad has played for that. The referee's view is that he can see it clearly. Mike can see it. There's no-one in his way. There's a full view of it.

"The lad backed into Leo. The referee has given it. That's what has happened. The referee has bought it.

"I think the one on Gabby was a penalty. That was an absolute stonewaller. That would have given us a chance to kick on for the final minutes.

"I don't think Fulham's one was at all. But I thought the referee's performance over the game was poor. I thought some of his decisions were poor."

However, Lambert accepted Villa didn't do enough to collect the three points on the cold afternoon at Craven Cottage.

He added: "We lost three to injury. But that's football and I don't want to make that as an excuse.I couldn't fault the lads for the way they tried to get themselves back into it.

"But I don't think we got going. I can't fault the lads though because the effort was there.

"We had a really tough game on Wednesday. But we pick ourselves up and go again.

"We had chances to get it back if we'd got the penalty which I thought we should have.

"But as a team, we were short. We never got going."

[ciggiesnbeer]

Yeah that was just poor. Ah well, onto the next game.

[DB]

It's also worth pointing out we have a number of injuries, second highest in the Prem I think (?)

All those great players waiting to come back into the team...I can see a late run to the Champions League if we get everyone fit

Don't be a bellend, I'm just trying to point it out as a potential reason why were poor today.

[hilts_coolerking]

Don't be a bellend, I'm just trying to point it out as a potential reason why were poor today.

It doesn't explain why we had no creativity and couldn't keep hold of the ball for more than 2 seconds or why we hoofed it far too often.  If this is how things are going to be every time we have injuries, which are a fact of footballing life, then we need a much better standard of squad player.

[richard moore]

It's also worth pointing out we have a number of injuries, second highest in the Prem I think (?)

All those great players waiting to come back into the team...I can see a late run to the Champions League if we get everyone fit

Don't be a bellend, I'm just trying to point it out as a potential reason why were poor today.

It's also worth pointing out we have a number of injuries, second highest in the Prem I think (?)

All those great players waiting to come back into the team...I can see a late run to the Champions League if we get everyone fit

Don't be a bellend, I'm just trying to point it out as a potential reason why were poor today.

Perhaps you could refrain from being abusive in future, thank you

[SoccerHQ]

Terrible performance against a team that has lost 6 on the bounce.

Fulham are better than that but really that was way too easy for them.

I think we saw today the effects 23% possession and then playing another away game less than 4 days later have.

We missed Ron badly and need him and Luna back fit for next sunday as for their faults, a defensive unit with them in it (and Lowton) is far better than the piss poor unit we saw.

Delph out suspended for Man. United aswell, great.

And what can you say about our strikers? Even when one of them scores they still look out of it next game. Baffling and it's not like we have saviours on the bench either.

Disappointing. I sort of blame myself aswell as when we play on a Saturday away I normally go to Broad St to watch it but couldn't be bothered with the early start so went into Sutton which was the first time I've watched an away game there since last season.....against Chelsea.

[PeterWithesShin]

It's also worth pointing out we have a number of injuries, second highest in the Prem I think (?)

All those great players waiting to come back into the team...I can see a late run to the Champions League if we get everyone fit

Don't be a bellend, I'm just trying to point it out as a potential reason why were poor today.

Less of the insults please.

[Villafirst]

I hope this doesn't turn into another nightmare December after last year! The omens aren't good.....Vlaar has another calf injury. Lambert should buy some defensive cover in January - EXPERIENCED!! even if it's a loan deal. Sylla needs to be restored to the middle and Lowton at right-back, Bacuna needs a break, which is understandable given his age and lack of experience at this level; I do think he'll be very good given time.

[levico]

I don't think we should be at all surprised about today. This is who Villa are at the moment and probably will stay that way for some time under the current ownership.

Our natural level of form, affected by injuries will produce results like today or maybe a boring draw at home against teams we should beat like Sunderland.

However, we do get lucky as per Citeh and Saints. We'll probably slide down a bit over December and January but we'll pick up later.

It ain't pretty, it ain't fun but it is what it is.

[Villafirst]

I don't think we should be at all surprised about today. This is who Villa are at the moment and probably will stay that way for some time under the current ownership.

Our natural level of form, affected by injuries will produce results like today or maybe a boring draw at home against teams we should beat like Sunderland.

However, we do get lucky as per Citeh and Saints. We'll probably slide down a bit over December and January but we'll pick up later.

It ain't pretty, it ain't fun but it is what it is.

That's a pretty depressing summary after 7 years of Lerner's tenure, but true - does he ever attend a match these days? We are light years away from being a top club with this regime.

[Bad English]

We pick ourselves up and we are woeful again.

[SamTheMouse]

Didn't see the match - sounds like I dodged a bullet. Anyhow, from a purely results-oriented point of view, it isn't a major problem is it? Ups and downs, it's not unexpected, we don't have the clout or the quality to string together win after win and we're bound to come a cropper now and then. Nothing to worry about really.

However, the overall style of play is another matter entirely. I understand it's not easy to work with a limited budget and Lambert is doing a decent enough job of improving the overall results, but if securing mid-table security requires him to turn my beloved team into a bastardised version of Pulis' Stoke, then I'm honestly not sure I wouldn't prefer an annual relegation battle.

[Irish villain]

I don't think we should be at all surprised about today. This is who Villa are at the moment and probably will stay that way for some time under the current ownership.

Our natural level of form, affected by injuries will produce results like today or maybe a boring draw at home against teams we should beat like Sunderland.

However, we do get lucky as per Citeh and Saints. We'll probably slide down a bit over December and January but we'll pick up later.

It ain't pretty, it ain't fun but it is what it is.

That's a pretty depressing summary after 7 years of Lerner's tenure, but true - does he ever attend a match these days? We are light years away from being a top club with this regime.

Whenever I say that I get jumped on by three or four posters.

[pooligan]

Just grateful it was only 2-0 if i am honest . Could have been a lot more listening to it on the radio .