City jumped to a 5-1 lead before the Cottagers struck three times. However, with 15 minutes remaining, Fulham couldn't find an equaliser.
Silva remarked afterwards: “After the fifth goal of City, you want to react, but you can be thinking the damage is there, probably it's better to don't take any risk and don't go and face the game.
“But the reaction was unbelievable – from the boys, from our team, from the fans, too. And looking at that reaction, we probably deserved that fifth goal to equalise the game. Unfortunately, we didn't.
“Many positives from the game, definitely. The main one – that connection with the fans in the end, really means something. We didn't take points from this game, but that reaction, the connection at the end, the respect that they showed for a team that lost and conceded five goals at home, was impressive from the fans, and is going to give us many things in the future.”
Much to improve
Silva, however, admits there was still much to improve after the performance.
He continued: “But against any side in the Premier League, more against sides with this quality, off the ball we have to be much stronger. They started on the front foot, and we were not aggressive enough off the ball.
“I think we created, I'm not saying easy, but a bit not so difficult scenario for them to score the first, even the chance from (Erling) Haaland (at 0-0) off the post.
“The second goal is a good example on it, the way we squeeze with a central defender, the way our backline didn't cover around. I think it’s clear in our principles, we have to do it much, much better, and quicker. We didn't, and they punished ourselves.
“The goal of Emile gave us a bit of hope at the end of the first half. A team that wants to react, double change at half-time – imagine if you go and you concede two early goals again?"
Players deserved more
Indeed, after seeing the character of his players, Silva insists they deserved to find an equaliser in those final 15 minutes.
He concluded, “But the reaction was unbelievable from them, and we have to praise that. We are going to take positives. We are going to analyse.
“For sure, the players’ feeling is not the best, because we lost the game, but we have to look for the positives, too, and praise the players for the reaction, the way they did it.
“They were really a team, they kept together themselves, and they pushed City back. Probably they deserved more, they deserved the fifth goal to equalise the game.”