‘Injustice’ leaves Hodgson aggrieved

FULHAM manager Roy Hodgson believes his team suffered an “injustice” in last night’s 2-1 defeat to Roma in the Europa League at the Stadio Olimpico.

The Cottagers felt some of the decisions by referee Kevin Blom greatly hindered their chances of progressing in Europe.

Having taken a 1-0 half-time lead through a Diomansy Kamara penalty, Fulham had substitute Erik Nevland shown a straight red card early in the second half after his foul on Daniele De Rossi.

Roma then punished the English club with goals from John Arne Riise and Stefano Okaka to inflict Fulham’s first defeat in the competition.

There was additional agony for the visitors as Paul Konchesky was sent off late in the game while they chased an equaliser.

“You cannot be happy in the face of injustice,” Hodgson said. “I accept the situation because the referee makes the decision but I’m not happy.

“I think the two red cards were very harsh. To play in the second half down to 10 men is a bitter pill to swallow.’’

The outcome allowed Roma to leapfrog the Cottagers into second in the group, two points clear of the Londoners with two games remaining.

Hodgson believes his team’s chances of progressing in Europe are now slim.

“This defeat leaves us struggling in the group,” Hodgson said. “This defeat takes things out of our hands a little bit. We could win the last two games and still not qualify.”

ROMA: Doni (Bertagnoli 46), Cassetti, Mexes, Andreolli, Riise, Cicinho (Taddei 46), Pizarro, De Rossi, Guberti (Menez 66), Okaka Chuka, Julio Baptista.

FULHAM: Schwarzer, Pantsil, Hughes, Hangeland, Konchesky, Riise (Zamora 70), Etuhu (Baird 77), Greening, Gera, Kamara (Nevland 46), Dempsey.

Referee: Kevin Blom (Holland).