Fulham boss Alvaro Arbeloa calls for patience after third straight Premier League defeat

Alvaro Arbeloa has urged Fulham supporters to remain patient after their third consecutive Premier League defeat, insisting the club’s difficult start will not define the rest of the season.

Fulham twice took the lead against Crystal Palace at Craven Cottage on Saturday but were beaten 3-2 after Ben Chilwell scored the decisive goal three minutes after returning to the Palace side. The defeat left Fulham without a point from their opening three league matches and prompted boos from sections of the home support.

Arbeloa, who replaced Marco Silva during the summer, said his team had created enough opportunities and performed with sufficient courage to have taken something from the match.

“We didn’t deserve to lose this game,” Arbeloa told BBC’s Match of the Day. “My players did everything – good attitude, they were brave, so many chances to score more goals.

“They took their chances – in the end football is about that. We did many good things to win the game. It was similar against Chelsea but we lose.”

Fulham’s performance was reflected in the underlying statistics, with the home side recording an expected goals figure of 3.13 compared with Crystal Palace’s 1.97. They had also gone close against Chelsea in their opening fixture, despite losing 3-2 at home, while Sunderland claimed victory in the match between those two games.

The immediate challenge for Arbeloa is considerable. Fulham travel to face Liverpool next in the Premier League before hosting Manchester United, while West Ham United await in the Carabao Cup. The club could therefore reach the first international break still seeking their first league points.

The former Real Madrid, Liverpool and West Ham player, who won 56 caps for Spain, acknowledged the pressure created by the results but said the players’ approach remained encouraging.

“For sure. Three games, three losses, so it’s difficult,” he said. “But I told my players this month, this month will not define our entire season.

“I think they are working so hard, they are giving everything they have, and with this mentality, with this character, I am sure that win will come.”

Arbeloa also praised the contribution of Fulham’s new arrivals Cesar Palacios and Gonzalo Garcia. Palacios scored against Crystal Palace, while Garcia has already found the net in both the Premier League and the EFL Cup this season.

Fulham will now seek a response at Anfield before returning to Craven Cottage for the visit of Manchester United. Despite the poor results, Arbeloa believes his side’s attitude can provide the foundation for a turnaround.

“With that spirit and character, if we play in this way the victories will come,” he said.