"We're disappointed, really disappointed. Maybe we had one eye on the Liverpool game," he said after the 2-0 defeat.
"I don't always go with that theory and I don't like using excuses. But I thought today I have not seen us like that before. We didn't get amongst Fulham and it never really happened for us.
"With a bit more conviction we could have upset them but we actually got worse in the second half.
"I made two changes and I could have taken other players off. It's hard for a team our size to have these games and try to prioritise them. Where do you cut off?
"But after the Anfield game where we came away with a 1-0 defeat and could have done even better we have realistically got a chance. Even though it's a big ask we could reach a cup final. It may never happen again.
"The one thing I can't do is go into the game with tired legs."