Fulham manager Martin Jol admitted the frustrating 1-0 defeat to Wisla Krakow was made all the worse by Moussa Dembele's sending off.
David Biton's goal earned the White Star their first points in Group K and maiden victory against English opposition. While both teams ended the match with 10 men after Osman Chavez was sent off for the home side, the decision to dismiss Dembele for retaliating to a clip on the heels from Gervasio Nunez midway through the first half changed the match.
"I was angry," Jol said of the decision. "If you are in control and lose a player that is a normal feeling. That changes everything. After seeing it, of course it is wrong as he raises his hand but you can't say it is a push."
He added: "You could say it was a frustrating evening. Before the sending off I think we were in control.
"The pace was good, possession play was good and I was very satisfied. Then we got a straight red card and that makes it difficult for any team.
"After that they had more confidence, of course, because they played with 11 players and it was an awful night for us. Even after that we should have had a couple of decisions. You can't say anything about the referee, bad or good."
While Jol was left disappointed by the evening's proceedings, fellow Dutchman and Wisla Krakow boss Robert Maaskant was more philosophical.
Asked whether Nunez had play acted after Dembele's push, he smiled and after a brief pause said: "(Jol) probably just has to look back at the situation. I don't think you're supposed to hit players on the pitch.
"We will never know [whether the red card changed the course of the match]. I still believe Fulham have a better squad than what we have, for example just look at their budget.
"But before the red card we created chances. We played very compact and I think we did a great job. We will never know [what swung it]. We were the better team but of course we have to see what happens when we go to London."
Source: PA
