Marco Silva bemoans injury crisis as Fulham make lucky escape in Wycombe | OneFootball

The Cottagers were without several first-team players as they beat the Wanderers on penalties

Marco Silva suggested that injuries were to blame for Fulham’s shaky form after they required a penalty shootout to beat League One strugglers Wycombe Wanderers in the Carabao Cup.

Speaking at full-time, Silva acknowledged the performance was not good enough, but said the situation was largely out of his hands.

He told Sky Sports: "Of course, we knew our obligation was to be in the next round even though it's not a word that should be in football because we know surprises happen in this competition if your approach is not serious enough.

"We didn't play with the intensity we should have in the first half but we did after that, and we created seven or eight clear chances. I told the players, in these types of moments, we are the first ones who have to be positive.

"We know the picture in our club, in our dressing room. We know the future is going to be better when we have players back, but we have to fight for this moment altogether."

“We aim high in these competitions. The team has been very very competitive in all the cup games. With more players available, we will be much stronger.”

Fulham were without several first-team players for the match, including the likes of Rodrigo Muniz, Joachim Andersen, Harry Wilson, and Emile Smith Rowe, while Raul Jimenez came off in the second half with an issue.

Silva added he hoped the win would be enough to reverse Fulham’s miserable run. They came into Tuesday’s match having lost four on the spin.

"We were serious, but when you come off some bad results, you have to be positive and confident, but you feel something around and the first minutes of the game showed that.

“[Wycombe’s goal] was their only shot on target they had, and it was a goal we should've defended better.”

With fellow strugglers Wolves due to visit in the Premier League this weekend, Silva called on Fulham’s fans to get behind the team as they look to build on the midweek win: “The players have to be positive, we have to play well to boost confidence. The fans need to make the Cottage a fortress on Saturday.”