Parker backs Tosin and says Fulham will learn from mistakes which undermined first-half bravery

Scott Parker has backed Tosin Adarabioyo and his players to learn from the errors which undermined an excellent first half against table-toppers Man City.

Fulham made life very difficult for Pep Guardiola's champions elect during a first half in which they stifled City, denying them the room to impose their normal slick passing rhythms.

But they shipped three quick goals at the start of the second half and went down 3-0. One of the goals came from a set piece, the other two from individual errors, including a penalty needlessly conceded by Tosin against his former club, who felled Ferran Torres after the City player had pinched the ball off him as he dithered in possession.

"It's a big learning curve," said the Fulham boss.

"Tosin's been exceptional Like a lot of the players we have here, he's a young player, a developing player, going to make mistakes, but what will define these players and how far they go is how quickly they can learn from the errors they make.

"Tosin's made an error initially with what he tried and then made another mistake because he's desperate to make up for that error. But he's learnt quickly and he will learn quickly. He'll be fine.

"It's been the key to why we've put ourselves in this position - why you are looking at a team that's well organised. If there's been one thing we've been very resilient about it's those moments when we've had a bit of adversity or made mistakes. We've come out the other side, we've learnt, we've grown, and that's going to be exactly the same now."

Parker said of Saturday night's game at the Cottage: "I thought the first half we took the game to Man City and played very well. We were very solid out of possession. I asked the team to be very brave in terms of the way we set it up in midfield going man for man and I thought we did that very, very well.

"But then there were some sloppy goals really, something we've not been accustomed to seeing really.

"There was a set play goal, which was poor and two individual errors that Man City pounced on and the game's over at that point really.

"I asked the team to be brave and show real courage - which you have to do when you are playing a top team like Man City - and try and leave a mark or at least have some sort of effect on the game and I thought we did that, but there's no denying that the mistakes and the goals we let in tonight were poor.

"It was frustrating for the team when you've come out for that second half with a good platform."

Bobby Decordova-Reid was missing with a hamstring injury but he has a "fighting chance" of being fit for Leeds on Friday night, but the coming days wlil tell.