A frustrated Marco Silva, the Fulham manager, described the performance of Darren Bond, the referee, as “not at Premier League level” after he opted not to dismiss the Ipswich defender Leif Davis during the sides’ 2-2 draw.
Fulham had to settle for a fifth draw in six games against dogged opponents who had led twice through Sammie Szmodics and a Liam Delap spot-kick. But Silva and his players felt Davis should have been sent off in the 28th minute after illegally halting Harry Wilson’s run towards goal, Bond issuing a yellow card and presumably feeling Ipswich’s Dara O’Shea was well placed to cover.
“It’s a clear red card,” Silva said. “We cannot control it. The performance from the referee was not at the level the Premier League demands, in my opinion. When [Wilson] touched the ball he was going one on one with the goalkeeper. It’s difficult to understand.
“A really difficult afternoon for the referee, and really difficult to explain some decisions. I cannot explain some of them to you.”
Silva felt all three of the game’s penalties, two of which were converted by Raúl Jiménez, were fairly awarded but noted the fact the video assistant referee had to intervene before the Mexican’s first spot-kick was awarded. Bond had initially waved play on. “We can agree it was a clear penalty,” he said. “The referee was in a top position to decide and VAR had to give the penalty.”
Ultimately, Silva admitted Fulham had to be “disappointed” with their display and lamented the back line errors that lay behind Ipswich’s goals. “We are too soft, the way we are defending at the moment,” he said.
His counterpart, Kieran McKenna, described “mixed emotions” after a point that builds on his 18th placed side’s win over Chelsea. Ipswich had chances to put the game beyond Fulham but he took encouragement from a disciplined display.
“Very pleased and proud of many aspects of the performance, disappointed with the two penalties we gave away,” he said.
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Ben Godfrey watched from the stands after completing his loan move to Ipswich from the Serie A title chasers Atalanta. McKenna said the former Everton player, capped twice by England, will be a valuable addition at right-back or in central defence. “We’re positive about it, we’re happy to have him,” he said. “It’s an area of the team we wanted to strengthen.”
