Fulham manager Felix Magath blamed the officials for his side’s 3-0 defeat at Reading, stating it was “impossible” to change the game after debutant Matt Smith was sent off early on.
Magath admitted Smith’s reckless challenge, for which he saw a straight red card on 18 minutes, deserved to be punished.
But he also felt the referee missed an earlier foul on Smith that riled the new signing from Leeds and was also worthy of a dismissal.
Magath also suggested that Whites keeper Gabor Kiraly was fouled in the build-up to Reading’s second goal.
“It was impossible after the sending-off because our hope was Matt Smith. We’ve had very good training sessions with him and he has shown us that he is a winner for our team,” Magath said.
“He was a very important player for us today and after 20 minutes he wasn’t here, so we weren’t able to change the game.
“Sure, he made a mistake, but I understand it because in the first second of the match he was wrestled down without the ball and that was frustrating for him – and I thought that was a sending-off.
“I don’t know, I’m new in England. If it is allowed to wrestle here then that is okay, but if it’s not allowed then I don’t know why he was not sent off.”
Many of the 2,700 travelling Fulham fans chanted for Magath to be sacked after a fifth league defeat from their opening five matches left them bottom of the Championship.
And Magath said: “What should I say to them? Should I tell them the referee didn’t protect Matt Smith? The referee didn’t protect my goalkeeper? They won’t hear that, I know.
“I can understand the fans are frustrated and shouting. I know I work for the fans and they have supported us very well.
“But it was wrestling, not football, and the keeper told me he was held so he cannot push the ball. If it is so, then what should I say about the goals?”
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This post was last modified on 14/09/2014