Marco Silva criticises Fulham’s second-half display in draw against Blackpool

Marco Silva criticised Fulham’s second-half display after his Championship leaders were held to a 1-1 draw by Blackpool.

Silva’s side came into the game having scored 22 goals and taken 12 points from their previous four games and appeared on course for another victory when Aleksandar Mitrovic put them ahead in the sixth minute.

It was the striker’s 28th league goal of the season and came before the game was halted in the 13th minute, while a supporter received urgent medical treatment before being taken to hospital.

The players returned to the pitch after a delay of over 40 minutes and the visitors worked their way back onto level terms when Josh Bowler equalised in the 56th minute.

Fulham boss Silva said: “Definitely, the result was not good. It was a disappointing result.

“We didn’t start well, we started brilliantly – in the first 11 minutes against a team who changed everything to face us. We scored a really good goal and had great chances to score the second.

“Then unfortunately we had the break and it was a really serious situation, so all our thoughts are with our friend.

“After we came back, we expected some changes because we’d controlled things so well.

“We were too slow in the second half and when you play slowly, you give some belief to the opposition.”

Silva also reserved criticism for referee Peter Bankes for what he believed were a succession of decisions that went against his team.

He added: “Our second half was bad but the second half from the ref was really bad.

“The way he managed the game, you can have a bad afternoon like my team but it was a bad second half from my team and the referee.

“The way he managed the game, you can have a bad afternoon like my team but it was a bad second half from my team