MARCO Silva says there can be no repeat of Fulham’s tame first half performance against Chelsea when struggling Sheffield United visit Craven Cottage tomorrow.
Expectations were high the Whites could repeat last season’s exploits against their SW6 rivals going into Monday evening’s televised encounter.
But Chelsea were dominant from the first whistle and raced 2-0 ahead by the 19th minute, an advantage they comfortably held on to.
Silva believes there was some improvement from his side after the break and it is that Fulham he will be looking to see more of at home to a lowly Blades side still searching for their first win and on the back of three straight defeats.
He said: “For sure, they (Sheffield United) want to react from the last ones, but we want the same.
“We want to react from the last match against Chelsea and we want to fight really hard for the three points.
“And we want to play better than the last one.
“We cannot repeat that first half.
“The second half was completely different against Chelsea but we have to really start different and be more consistent during the 90 minutes instead of just reacting second half, which is what we want to see tomorrow on the pitch.”
Sheffield United are still reeling from the 8-0 drubbing they received at the hands of Newcastle United in their last home game a fortnight ago.There was an improvement of sorts in last weekend’s 2-0 reverse at West Ham and even though it is now six defeats from seven, Silva is taking nothing for granted against a side propping up the Premier League table.
“It’s always tough against Sheffield United,” he said.
“We know how they come here, always with the two strikers in any moment of the game ready to try to punish you.
“They have the capacity, even if you press them high, to go more direct for one of the target men and after to explore in behind.
“They prepare well for second balls and they are always a threat in set-pieces as well.
“We have to be really focused on the game and, of course, put the game in the areas that we are strong and to play in our way.”
