MARCO Silva explained his unusual triple substitution just 33 minutes into Fulham’s 3-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Tuesday.
The Cottagers were 2-0 behind by that time, after goals from Callum Hudson-Odoi and Chris Wood, before Morgan Gibbs-White added the hosts’ third in first-half stoppage-time.
Silva sent on Tom Cairney, Willian and Adam Traore for Sasa Lukic, Harry Wilson and Alex Iwobi.
Tosin Adarabioyo pulled a goal back in the 49th minute.
“I wanted to see a reaction. I want to be clear it was not the fault of the players who came off,” Silva said. “In that moment if I could have changed more, I would have. I do not want to highlight those three players, it was not their fault. At that moment I wanted to keep more of the ball and with Tom Cairney and Willian they are able to do that. I wanted to create some one-v-ones on the right-hand side and Adama is able to do that.
“We had a serious conversation at half-time. We wanted to show a completely different performance and we scored an early goal which was important for us.
“In terms of a reaction we also had one off the crossbar, one off the post. We had some other chances as well. They had one or two moments as well but scoring that second goal for us could have meant everything.
“The reaction was there in the second half but that doesn’t matter because the performance in the first half leaves us with nothing to be pleased with. Normally we are a team that creates chances. Even though we were not at our best level we kept creating chances.
“Football is not just about creating chances – we have to be solid.”
Fulham host Newcastle United on Saturday.
