TOM Cairney echoed manager Marco Silva’s sentiments by questioning why Malo Gusto was allowed to stay on the pitch after a late tackle on Willian.
Gusto was fortunate to escape with only a yellow card for the first half tackle despite TV replays strongly suggesting a red was warranted.
Chelsea went on to win the SW6 derby 1-0 after winning a penalty on the stroke of half-time which was scored by Cole Palmer.
Fulham boss Silva was furious with the Gusto decision afterwards, as was his skipper.
Cairney told FFC TV: “I think it was quite an even game.
“It was a little bit more open in the second half but to lose to a penalty is just frustrating really.
“We should have come away with at least a point in my opinion.
“It was a lack of maybe concentration. It was a little bit of good play by them but it is probably one of the worst times to concede with virtually the last kick of the first half.
“To be honest with you I think they should have had 10 men anyway before that with the tackle on Willy, which I don’t know how it has gone to VAR and not been a red.
“Maybe you don’t get these things away from home.”
He added: “I didn’t realise it was as bad at the time until I seen it back. I heard Willy shout.
“I knew it was quite high but he has hit his leg fully with his studs.
“Normally in this day and age it is a straight red, so I’m really confused why it wasn’t.”
Fulham certainly had their moments in the game but were still left searching for a first win at Stamford Bridge in 45 years.
The defeat came just three days after another narrow loss, a 2-1 reverse at Anfield in the opening leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final.
But despite the quickfire double setback, Cairney still believes his side can take plenty of credit for the account they gave of themselves.
He explained: “The positives are we’ve just played Liverpool and Chelsea away in the space of a few days and literally pushed them to the end.
“They were clearing balls in the last five or 10 minutes but we just couldn’t manage to find the goal.
“Listen, they’ve got a quality squad but it just shows you how far we’ve come in such a short space of time where we are disappointed not to get something out of today.”
Cairney added: “The energy levels were there, the effort was there, we were fighting. It was just a little bit of decision making or a little bit of magic we missed in the final third.
“It is just frustration probably from us, and the fans as well, because we were up in there end quite a lot in the second half but we couldn’t manage to find the goal.”
The Fulham skipper is aiming to give the supporters something to cheer about next Wednesday when they look to book a Wembley appearance by beating Liverpool in the second leg of the League Cup semi.
Cairney said: “We are going to try and switch off a little bit over the next few days and rest the body, but we are fully aware we’ve got a huge game a week on Wednesday at the Cottage.
“We will be giving it all to get to a League Cup final.
“The fans were absolutely fantastic today. It was a pleasure to play in to be honest, especially in the second half kicking that way.
“I’m just sorry we couldn’t manage to find that goal to send them home happier.”
