Hodgson angry at Fulham red cards

Nevland (left) was shown a straight red card three minutes after coming on

Fulham manager Roy Hodgson claimed the red cards against his team in their Europa League Group E defeat by Roma were an "injustice".

The Cottagers had Erik Nevland sent off by referee Kevin Blom when 1-0 up and went 2-1 down before Paul Konchesky was also dismissed late on.

"You cannot be happy in the face of injustice," said Hodgson.

"I accept the situation as the referee makes the decision but I am not happy. The two red cards were very harsh."

Nevland had only come on at the start of the second half before being dismissed four minutes later for a tackle on Roma midfielder Daniele de Rossi.

"To play in the second half down to 10 men is a bitter pill to swallow," added Hodgson.

"But what can you do but accept the referee's decision because it doesn't change anything."

Fulham had Stephen Kelly dismissed when Roma snatched a late draw in the meeting between the teams at Craven Cottage on 22 October.

And the Premier League side had looked in control until Nevland's red card at the Stadio Olimpico, before going on to lose.

"It was a fantastic performance from my players in the first half," said Hodgson.

"We have been better than Roma when playing 11 against 11 in both games."

The defeat leaves Fulham third behind leaders Basle and Roma in their group with two games left.

"This defeat leaves us struggling in the group," said Hodgson. "Every time you get players sent off you have players suspended for three matches which means, at this rate, I would need to have a squad of 60 players.

"Unfortunately, this defeat takes things out of our hands a little bit. We could win the last two games and still not qualify.

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"It has been an interesting experience. We will become stronger and bounce back."

Roma boss Claudio Ranieri believed the red card for Nevland was a turning point in the game but a deserved punishment for the Fulham striker.

"The sending off benefited us for sure," he said. "But I believe it was a red card as Nevland made the foul in a Roma counter-attack.

"Fulham deserved the lead in the first half but my team did better after the re-start and we never gave up and we were rewarded."