Iwobi's substitution after 33 minutes: Fulham coach absolves Super Eagles star of any blame 

Fulham manager Marco Silva has defended his first half substitutions during his side's 3-1 loss to Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Tuesday evening. 

The Cottagers in the opening twenty minutes were not in the game at all and found themselves two goals down after strikes from Callum Hudson-Odoi and Chris Wood. 

A disappointed Silva reacted by making three tactical substitutions, replacing Alex Iwobi, Sasa Lukic and Harry Wilson, with Adama Traore, Tom Cairney and Willian coming on.

The triple substitutions by the Portuguese football tactician had no effect on the game as Morgan Gibbs-White increased the lead in first half stoppage time. 

Nigerian central defender Tosin Adarabioyo headed home from a corner to reduce the deficit three minutes into the second half but it proved to be a consolation as Fulham were beaten for the fourteenth time in this season's Premier League. 

Silva has emphasized that he made the substitutions in the 33rd minute because he wanted his side to maintain possession and it was not influenced by individual performances. 

In quotes relayed by Fulham's official website,, Silva said post-match: "I wanted to see a reaction. I want to be clear it was not the fault of the players who came off. 

"In that moment if I could have changed more, I would have.  I do not want to highlight those three players, it was not their fault. 

"At that moment I wanted to keep more of the ball & with Tom Cairney & Willian they are able to do that. 

"I wanted to create some one v ones on the right-hand side and Adama is able to do that."

Since returning from Africa Cup of Nations duty in February, Iwobi has started six of the seven matches played by Fulham  in the Premier League.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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