5 users online

MST

Roy Hodgson annoyed by officials Everton

last updated Monday 26th April 2010, 1:51 PM
Fulham manager Roy Hodgson
Fulham manager Roy Hodgson
     
Other Roy Hodgson Stories
Fulham manager Roy Hodgson admitted that he was bitterly disappointed to see his Fulham side taste defeat after a 2-1 loss to Everton at Goodison Park.

Mikel Arteta's last minute penalty won the day for the Toffees in a game Fulham seemed to be taking a share of the spoils from after coping with most attacks Everton threw at them.

But a late throw in the lead up to the penalty decision caused controversy after appearing to come off an Everton player before going out of play, leading to Sylvain Distin's long throw in the box and Chris Baird bringing down Tim Cahill for the spot kick.

Hodgson was clearly annoyed by the decision, and made his feelings very clear about how unlucky his side were to lose.

"It's very hard to take," he said.

"It will take me a while to calm down and get over it but that's football I suppose.

"First of all I thought it was our throw in and I don't think it's a penalty it was very harsh to give it for that."

The Fulham boss praised his side's hardworking performance, where Erik Nevland's opening goal gave his side a half time lead before a Chris Smalling own goal restored parity to proceedings.

However he also praised Everton for their fighting spirit and confessed that any side he put out would have found it difficult despite fielding a somewhat weakened team ahead of their Europa League semi final second leg against Hamburg on Thursday.

"We were playing against a good team who are on a remarkable run and I think we were going to find it difficult whatever team we decided to field today," Hodgson added.

"I'm just really gutted that we've lost a very valuable point and a very well deserved one in such a fashion."

With Thursday's encounter at Craven Cottage against the German side deadlocked at 0-0, Hodgson will know that his team will need to score in what will go down as one of the biggest matches in the club's history.







































































Source Mike Barton at SkySports
Since 1998
"It's been updated!"