MARCO Silva wants his side to “write a different story” when Fulham face Newcastle United at Craven Cottage on Saturday.
The Cottagers have lost their last six games against the Magpies, five in the Premier League and one in the FA Cup. They haven’t beaten Newcastle in their last nine games since a 3-1 win at St James’ Park in the Championship in March 2017 when Tom Cairney scored once and Ryan Sessegnon added a brace.
Silva has lost all five of his games in charge of Fulham against Newcastle boss Eddie Howe. Fulham haven’t scored in their last four games against their north-east opponents.
“Very good side, strong side,” Silva said in his pre-match press conference. “From a technical, physical, collective point of view, they are a really good side.
“They are solid, they are physical, they feel comfortable defending their box. You can feel that they have some leaders there in that back four, and they are a solid side.
“They are strong in both ends, and we have to take our chances. When you have the chances, you have to take them and you have to be ruthless.
“They know that it is going to be tough as well for them. Our recent record against them wasn’t the best in terms of results.
“After analysing the last games against them, performance wise I think, [in] most of them we were at our level. But results, they speak louder, always, and because of that I said the recent record wasn’t the best, but we are going to work really hard to change it.
“We want to repeat some type of performance, but with a different result, and we have to write a different story.”
Silva has won three of his ten matches against Howe, including 3-1 at home to AFC Bournemouth in his first Premier League match in charge of Hull City.
Silva said: “Very good manager, very good manager. Already a long time playing against each other.
“I remember from, I think, one of my first games in England, was against him at Hull, and then Watford, when he was at Bournemouth, after with Everton at Bournemouth, too. It’s been a long time already, some good battles.
“Very good manager and, as you all know, he had a massive, massive impact when he first came to Newcastle. It was a difficult moment for the club, and he completely turned it around for them, and they have been growing and growing and growing.
“Can feel the connection with him, players and fans as well, in a club with a massive fanbase. A very good job is being done in that football club, and it’s going to be a tough game for us.
“And he knows, clear, that it’s going to be really tough for them, too.”
