TIM Ream didn’t make any excuses for Fulham’s 2-0 defeat against Newcastle United in the fourth round of the FA Cup at Craven Cottage on Saturday as he felt the Cottagers only had themselves to blame after conceding twice from corners.
Sean Longstaff fired in the opener in the 39th minute after Fulham couldn’t clear Kieran Trippier’s delivery and the ball had come off the arm of Bruno Guimeraes. The goal was given after a VAR check.
Dan Burn scored the second against his former club in the 61st minute after goalkeeper Marek Rodak parried Sven Botman’s header.
Fulham boss Marco Silva felt the first goal shouldn’t have stood because of the handball. While the ball did strike the Magpies midfielder’s arm, it did appear accidental and goals can only be disallowed in that instance, if it goes to the video assistant referee, if the ball hits the arm of the scorer.
There was also some question that a goal-kick rather than a corner should have been given before the second.
It was Fulham’s second knockout exit in three days after their semi-final defeat to Liverpool in the EFL Cup.
“It’s a frustrating one,” Ream said on Fulham TV. “We gave up two set-pieces. I’d argue that the second one shouldn’t even have been a corner. Neither here nor there at that point.
“First half, we were all over them, really. It was just a shame that, as the manager says, we got the details wrong on two set-pieces and then concede. To have it be from a static situation where you are prepared, you are set up, you’re all in position and still to concede, it hurts a little more.”
Ream revealed the players had discussed the legitimacy of the first goal.
“That was touched upon in the dressing room,” Ream said. “The argument from some was that the referee saw the handball in the first place so why didn’t he blow it? Again, by the letter of the law the person who handballs it doesn’t score, so they check it and the goal stands. Again, you concede just before half-time, it’s a tough one to take.
“It seems so obvious but goals change games. If one of those chances in the first half – Rodrigo’s [Muniz] that the keeper makes a fingertip [save] if that goes in, if there’s not an offside call and Willian’s stands, the game changes. Goals change games. They got the first one. We huffed and puffed and didn’t quite do enough to put the ball in the net.”
