MX23RW : Sunday, April 7 02:15:06| >> :600:356391:356391:
Apr 2, 2019 at 7.45pm UK at ​Vicarage Road Stadium (Watford)
Attendance: 17,301
Watford
4-1
Fulham
Doucoure (23'), Hughes (63'), Deeney (69'), Femenia (75')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Babel (33')

Scott Parker not thinking about future after Fulham relegation

Parker not thinking about future after Fulham relegation
© Reuters
Defeat to Watford left Fulham 16 points from safety with only five games to play.

Scott Parker intends to tell the Fulham hierarchy the reasons for their relegation after their fate was sealed with Tuesday's 4-1 thrashing at Watford.

They were condemned to an instant return to the Championship, stranded 19th in the Premier League table with only 17 points from 33 games, 16 short of safety with just 15 to play for.

The caretaker manager has overseen five defeats from his five fixtures since succeeding the sacked Claudio Ranieri on a temporary basis, after the Italian had also failed to improve results following Slavisa Jokanovic's earlier dismissal.

Scott Parker has lost all of his five games in caretaker charge of Fulham
Scott Parker has lost all of his five games in caretaker charge of Fulham (Nigel French/PA).

Fulham's relegation also comes after their net spend of £106million over the past two transfer windows represented the third highest in the Premier League.

Parker, 38, said: "I was put in this position and I realise where the mistakes are, what needs to change. Ultimately I'll put my points across.

"I've not honestly thought about myself (remaining as manager).

"I'm obviously gutted. I realised how big the task was and we all understood how big the task was to try to stay in this division. The most disappointing thing was how we lost.

"In a snapshot, if you haven't watched us play this year and you just watched those 10 minutes where (goals) two, three, four go in, that sums it up.

"We just can't weather a storm. That's exactly it. In the Championship, you get away with it. In this division, you ain't getting away with it.

"I'm sure there's a mental issue. When you're bottom of the league, everything becomes a bit harder. There's some naivety.

"The dressing room is obviously disappointed. Gutted.

"There have been some initial discussions, but not real, 'Okay, where have the mistakes been made?'

"There needs to be a sit-down, work out where the mistakes were made this year, work on that as quick as we can and go from there."

Abdoulaye Doucoure gave Watford the lead and, while Ryan Babel temporarily brought the visitors level, Will Hughes' fine volley and then further finishes from Troy Deeney and Kiko Femenia secured a convincing victory.

Watford's win gave them further cause for encouragement ahead of Sunday's FA Cup semi-final against Wolves at Wembley, as well as a club record Premier League points tally of 46.

Manager Javi Gracia said: "To win was the best way to prepare for the next game.

"Amazing. To get 46 points, the best amount of points ever in the Premier League, is very good.

"For the next game, we will see what happens. I have to take difficult decisions. After (substitute Andre Gray's) performance, I have to think about that.

"In the first half? Yes (I was angry). I did not like what I saw. We needed to change something.

"We did not keep the shape in the first half, we lost challenges. We had to adjust positions, movements, and two substitutions.

"In the second half, we felt better. More possession, more chances, scoring more goals. It was the key to winning the game."


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Fulham interim manager Scott Parker on March 17, 2019
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool33257175205582
2Manchester CityMan City32262483216280
3Tottenham HotspurSpurs322111060342664
4Arsenal31196665392663
5Chelsea32196755342163
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd32187761431861
7Leicester CityLeicester33145144644247
8Wolverhampton WanderersWolves32138114039147
9Watford32137124747046
10Everton32127134542343
11West Ham UnitedWest Ham32126144148-742
12Crystal Palace33116163943-439
13Bournemouth33115174461-1738
14Burnley33106174060-2036
15Newcastle UnitedNewcastle3398163143-1235
16Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton3196163246-1433
17Southampton3289153653-1733
18Cardiff CityCardiff3284202861-3328
RFulham3345243076-4617
RHuddersfield TownHuddersfield3335251963-4414

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