What a week for Fulham. Marco Silva’s side surged up to sixth in the table with their second London derby success in five days – following up Monday’s stirring stoppage-time comeback against Brentford by piling more pressure on Oliver Glasner with a comfortable win at Crystal Palace. The Whites were utterly dominant from the outset, but only led through Emile Smith Rowe’s stylish strike on the stroke of half time. Nerves jangled at the narrowness of the lead even after Daichi Kamada saw red for a reckless lunge at Kenny Tete, until Harry Wilson scored within 68 seconds of stepping off the bench to seal the three points.
Fulham’s margin might have been even greater. Smith Rowe was denied a second after being adjudged offside via VAR after he had turned home a cross from the excellent Alex Iwobi and Wilson had another brace ruled out after being penalised for a handball before he shot past Dean Henderson. It ultimately didn’t matter, but the in-form Welsh wizard sought for Michael Salisbury for an explanation at full time before being serenaded by the travelling fans.
The visitors had the lion’s share of the early possession but a mistake from the returning Joachim Andersen allowed Jean-Philippe Mateta a sight of goal, but the French forward snatched at his shot. The first of Iwobi’s inventive runs set up a chance for Raul Jimenez at the other end a minute later, with the Mexican striker swivelling superbly before shooting a fraction wide. Jimenez, who was outstanding throughout, then turned provider for Reiss Nelson but the Arsenal loanee fired straight at Henderson.
Nelson then darted onto a clever ball from Smith Rowe and tried to pick out the far corner only for his shot to fly wide. Smith Rowe had a shot bravely blocked by Maxence Lacroix. Palace posed a greater threat from set pieces than open play as illustrated by the ease with which Marc Guehi found himself free at the far post but the England international’s header flew wide. Mateta also nodded over from a promising position, but Fulham finished the first period on the front foot.
Antonee Robinson sent a rasping drive over from the edge of the box, but a sweeping move culminated in Iwobi’s venomous volley before brilliantly pushed over the bar by Henderson after excellent approach play from Smith Rowe and Nelson. Andersen cleared off his line against his old side after a dreadful defensive mix-up saw Mateta head past Leno’s best efforts, before the Whites hit the front. Smith Rowe seized on a slack ball from Lacroix and fed Jimenez, who threaded a beautiful ball beyond the home rearguard for Fulham’s record signing to find the far corner fabulosuly.
Smith Rowe then celebrated his second in front of the away fans before VAR chalked it off, but that setback didn’t dilute the visitors’ creativity. Iwobi picked out Andreas Pereira, whose swerving shot was superbly saved by Henderson. Jimenez then lashed an effort just over the bar from a Pereira flag-kick and Nelson and Iwobi went close to scoring the crucial second. Palace’s hopes of getting back into the contest were dashed when Kamada crudely cruched Tete, who was eventually fit to reutrn.
Silva summoned Wilson and Tom Cairney from the bench after the pair had engineered the remarkable turnaround against the Bees. It took the Welsh international just 68 seconds to make his mark – slotting home after an intelligent ball from Iwobi, sparking delirious celebrations in the Arthur Waite Stand. Wilson was furious to see his measured finish from Adama Traore’s cross ruled out for handball, but the Cottagers had already underlined their superiority over Glasner’s strugglers.
Oliver Glasner’s side managed to claim their first league win of the season towards the end of October when they edged Tottenham Hotspur 1-0.
They followed it up with an EFL Cup victory at Aston Villa, but then were held to a draw by Wolves last weekend and were beaten on Saturday 2-0 at Selhurst Park by Fulham.
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