Bernd Leno: A quiet afternoon for the German goalkeeper was an encouraging sign as it coincided with a clean sheet. Leno had little to do but dealt with a couple of efforts from Ebere Eze and Jean-Philippe Mateta, whilst remaining confident in coming for crosses and serving up decent distribution fo the rest of the Fulham side. 6
Timothy Castagne: The Belgian international demonstrated what a shrewd signing he proved to be by stepping in to replace Kenny Tete a week after after an assured home debut where he had deputised for the injured Antonee Robinson. Castagne was more than willing to offer himself as an attacking outlet, regularly bursting beyond Bobby Decordova-Reid, and his selfless surges into the final third almost broke the deadline when Willian failed to convert a cross from Harrison Reed in the second half. 8
Antonee Robinson: The adventurous Amercican left back was my man of th match. Robinson drove deep into Palace territory whenever he could and set the tone for a strong afternoon by being invovled in the move that led to Fulham’s first chance, with Sam Johnstone saving well from Andreas Pereira. That remarkable turn of pace was as effective in the dying embers of the contest, when he sprinted to disrupt a Palace attack, Robinson appears to keep getting better and better – which is no mean feat. 8
Issa Diop: Back-to-back clean sheets for the French centre back, who was quietly composed at the heart of a miserly Fulham back four. He kept Odsonne Edoaurd relatively quiet and there wasn’t even a panic-indicing back pass to Leno. Diop’s distribution has improved since he first came into the side but this was an ungamorous and efficient away display from theex-West Ham centre half. Racking up those clean sheets and points is so important for Silva. 7
Tim Ream: The ageless American veteran continues to impress on the back stage. Ream was resolution personified in the second period, having been irritated – and with good reason – by Paul Tierney’s decision to show him a yellow card for a foul. If his decision makin and passing wasn’t as assured in the early stages, you could understand the St. Louis native being thrown off by the referee’s willigness to card people for next to nothing. But he was composed and confident as the Whites kept the back door closed. 7
Harrison Reed: The ‘Ginger Iniesta’ had to work hard all afternoon with Ebere Eze floating into space between the Fulham midfield and where Edouard was leading the line. The former QPR man was largely Joao Palhinha’s responsibility but Reed was alive to the danger as well as bombing on into attacking positions when Fulham attacked themselves. Willian probably should have scored from his second half ball, but Reed’s work rate and desire were second to none (as we’ve come to expect). 7
Joao Palhina: Another outstanding afternoon from the Portuguese midfielder, whose tenacity to win the ball back was unaffected by an exceptionally harsh early caution. There’s been no sign of any lack of intensity from the former Sporting Lisbon schemer after his deadline day switch to Bayern Munich fallen through – and he dominated Will Hughes and Cheick Doucoure in the engine room this afternoon. His importance to this side was encapsulated by a brilliant recovery tackle to stop Eze in his tracks after Edoaurd had appeared to foul Ream only for Tierney to play on. 7
Bobby Decordova-Reid: One of the Bristolian’s quieter afternoons having come into the starting eleven for Harry Wilson. A scorer at Selhurst last season, Decordova-Reid could easily have laid on a goal when the Whites were presented with a three-on-two opportunity in the second half but he delayed the pass to Raul Jimenez, leaving the Mexican with little room to squeeze a shot home from acute angle. 6
Willian: The former Arsenal and Chelsea winger has yet to hit the heights of last season owing to injury and a lack of game time but this was probably his best performance of a stop-start campaign so far. Willian could easily have won it from Reed’s cross but placed his finish too close to Sam Johnstone, who saved smartly. His understanding with Robinson and Pereira created some lovely passing triangles even if Fulham were unable to make the breakthrough. 6
Andreas Pereira: Pereira looked like Fulham’s most potent threat in the first half, buzzing around with intent at the top of the visitors’ midfield, before fading badly after the interval. He forced a fine save from Johnstone early on and then played a lovely through ball for Jimenez only for the Palace goalkeeper to be alert the danger again. Pereira dropped inton a number of promising positions, but it was no surprise that he was hooked after struggling to influence proceedings.6
Raul Jimenez: One of those afternoons that the Mexican centre forward is having at the moment. His hold-up play and understanding with Fulham’s midfield and wingers was much improved, but Raul still spurned two clear-cut chances to turn a point into three on the road. He killed Pereira’s perfect ball with a touch reminscent of Dimitar Berbatov but failed to find a finish before his cross-shot eluded Pereira as the Whites squandered a three-on-two after the break. 6
SUBSTITUTES
Alex Iwobi: The Nigerian international wasn’t as much of a gamechanger as against Luton last week but still added some drive and pace having come on for Pereira with fifteen minutes to play. 6
Carlos Vinicius: Came on for Raul in a change that could easily have happened ten minutes earlier but the Brazilian’s only opportunity was swiftly curtailed by an offside flag. 6
Harry Wilson: Looked lively along the right after being introduced in place of Decordova-Reid for the last ten minutes or so. 6
