Crystal Palace extend their head-to-head unbeaten record at the Craven Cottage with a 2-1 victory which sees them through to the league’s top four with three consecutive wins on the road.
A couple of key players were missing for Palace and the fans were unclear of what they were to expect. Nevertheless, they went into the game keen to prove they were very much okay. Nketiah opened the scoring for Palace in the 20th minute while Wilson leveled for Fulham just seven minutes to the break. Finally the decided m’as scored in the 87th minute giving Palace a much deserved win.
Match Overview
Despite the absence of their key players, Crystal Palace showed real intent early in the game with Jean-Philippe Mateta stealing a march in the inside left channel before testing Bernd Leno who was in goal for Fulham. Fulham’s failure to heed the early warnings made them pay the price as Eddie Nketiah, who came on for the injured Ismaïla Sarr, punished the hosts by firing from the edge of the area, a ball from Adam Wharton.
Fulham were slow to reply, but eventually they found their way back into the game and leveled the scores through Harry Wilson who made a clean effort with the outside of his foot into the far corner just before halftime.
The second period resumed with much intensity from both sides with Fulham’s Kenny Tete arriving in a left footed effort over the bar just minutes after the restart. Palace then replied through Mateta who could only drag a left footed effort of his own wide of the post on the other end of the pitch.
After several minutes of play, Fulham opted for more attacking substitutions while Crystal Palace made more defensive changes which followed Alex Iwobi’s initial header, from a wicked cross by Samuel Chukwueze, cannoned back off the post but Smith-Rowe turned it home only for the goal to be ruled off as Chukwueze had strayed offside during the buildup.
The volume of attackers Marco Silva introduced into his side seemed to negate Fulham’s performance with two big chances falling into Palace’s hands in the final five minutes but they missed both. Finally, Marc Guehi was able to break clear at the near post to head home Yeremy Pino’s corner, the last show of the game.
Upcoming Fixtures
Fulham:
Burnley vs Fulham – 13 December 18:30
Newcastle vs Fulham – 17 December 21:15
Crystal Palace:
Shelbourne vs Crystal Palace – 11 December 21:00
Crystal Palace vs Manchester City – 14 December 15:00
