Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic is desperate for Fulham to cut costly mistakes out of their game.
This month has seen two penalties conceded and the same amount missed, while Aston Villa’s winner on Saturday came about following a defensive error.
“We’ve given many presents in this Championship,” he stated. “We made one big mistake [today] and paid a very expensive price.
“After the cross [Jonathan] Kodjia smashed the goal very well. Credit to him, it’s not easy to score this kind of goal.
“At the end we are disappointed. We had possession of the ball, we did many important things, but it’s true that we didn’t create enough chances.”
David Button was a regular outlet for his side, and while Jokanovic admitted the goalkeeper was perhaps overused as an option to pass to, he refused to condemn him after his wayward clearance led to the only goal of the game.
“I encourage my team to play with the ‘keeper but today sometimes it was not necessary to play it to the ‘keeper,” he explained. “I don’t blame my ‘keeper.
“We played very well first 45 minutes but we didn’t play behind Aston Villa in the second half. We tried to fix the problem but Aston Villa pushed us without the ball, pressed us, and won the game with muscle, and won the game without the ball.
“We weren’t solid enough, we showed less ambition and a lack of concentration. We didn’t play with enough personality second half and we paid a very expensive price.”
Once again, Fulham cruised the possession stakes, but Jokanovic is keen to see his side add more of an edge to their game.
“I like to have possession of the ball,” he said. “I like trying to dominate the game, but it’s necessary to be solid, strong. Fouling is part of football.
“Aston Villa today are a team who use these rules very well, and we have to be stronger. This is the Championship, this is England, and we have to know where we are. Sometimes we are a little bit confused.”