Marco Silva was delighted with Fulham’s application and performance as the Whites secured their second London derby win in a week with a comfortable 2-0 win over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park this afternoon.
Emile Smith Rowe fired Fulham in front on the stroke of half time and Harry Wilson made sure of the points with another goal off the bench – scoring the crucial second just 68 seconds after being introduced.
Silva told Match of the Day:
“I think we deserved much more but it is what it is. Great three points, great team performance. I think we have been seeing better things every match, every day that we are working with them. The confidence from the last game to this game is clear as well. The commitment, the attitude, the desire to do great things was there again.”
The Fulham head coach was pleased with how clinical his charges were on the counter attack.
“We know how to do it, we know how to arrive with the ball. For us to do it we have to be brave off the ball, good positioning from ourselves was going to be important. Most of the times we decided with quality.”
He saluted another superb display from Emile Smith Rowe, the club’s record signing.
 “Sometimes the most expensive ones are the players that don’t perform. When you saw him and we had a small chance to fight to have him here, I told our board that we need to fight with everything we can because we needed a player like him. Creative in those pocket areas, a player who will score more throughout the season – I don’t have doubts – he’s a lovely kid, a lovely boy who is going to become a man and improve. He’s already a really good player, he’s going to be a top player. It’s so nice to have a talent like him to work with.”
There were also more warm words for Harry Wilson, who made a decisive impact from the substitutes’ bench for the second game in succession.
“I know that Harry wants to play from the start. Great impact on Monday against Brentford, it was an amazing moment from him and this afternoon again. We know he has the sharpness to go and create these kind of moves. This afternoon he scored in the same way as well, when he arrives in certain areas he has the ability to put the ball in the net. He has this quality, this ability.”
Excellent performance against a very poor Palace team. Our transitions from defence to attack were fast, smooth and skilful with every player having a part to play.
On another day, it could have been 5 or 6 goals in our favour.
Special shout out to Pereira. I am his biggest critic but, today, he was on top of his game (apart from his dreaded corners).
Even if Palace had been at full strength, they would have struggled to cope with us.
Yep Pereira had more time today. Palace’s central midfield was poor. Encouraging signs nonetheless.
I’d just like to give a shout out for Berge. He’s starting to look the enforcer. He’s not quite as athletic as Palhinia but he’s reading the play well and makes the right, simple pass. Marco will make him better and better
COYW