A stunning strike from Jeffrey Schlupp ensured that Crystal Palace took a deserved share of the spoils from an action-packed encounter with Fulham at Craven Cottage this afternoon.

The Eagles’ improvement under Oliver Glasner was evidence as the visitors completely dominated the first half an hour of the contest but somehow Fulham survived until half-time with their clean sheet intact. Marco Silva’s side were much improved after the break and took the lead through Rodrigo Muniz’s tenth goal of the season but, after Bobby De Cordova-Reid had spurned a great chance to double their advantage, the Cottagers were pegged back when substitute Schlupp slammed an unstoppable effort in the top corner from 22 yards out.

Palace would have been seriously aggrieved at leaving SW6 with nothing, especially as they should have been three goals to the good inside twenty minutes. Jean-Philippe and Adam Wharton combined to put Michael Olise in the clear but he skewed his shot wide of Bernd Leno’s far post. Daniel Munoz, who had been denied a penalty when he collapsed in the box under a challenge from Antonee Robinson, then supplied a cross from the right that Mateta lifted over the bar before Chris Richards sent a header from Olise’s whipped free-kick just over the crossbar.

The home side eventually got their bearings and the recalled Isa Diop gradually got to grips with the imposing Mateta, but Palace still posed a real threat. Wharton whacked a long-range effort high into the Hammersmith End, but Nathaniel Clyne came much closer with his rising drive from 30 yards flying fractionally over. It took Silva’s side 42 minutes to register a shot on target. Muniz, who was repelled by a series of robust challenges in his running battle with Joachim Andersen, almost squeezed a shot past Dean Henderson at his near post after latching onto a lofted through ball from Joao Palhinha and Diop sent a free header over from the subsequent corner.

Fulham started the second half as they had finished the first and took the lead seven minutes after the interval. Andreas Pereira drove at the Palace defence and slipped Timothy Castagne into space behind the dozing Tyrick Mitchell. The Belgian measured an excellent cross towards the far post where Muniz’s movement had seen slip away from Andersen and Clyne to head home. Pereira then produced a peach of a pass with the outside of his boot to fashion a shooting opportunity for De Cordova-Reid but the Jamaican snatched at his effort and it went wide of goal.

Glasner introduced Odsonne Edouard for Mateta and the former Celtic forward almost made an immediate impact, spinning in the area superbly to side-foot towards goal but Leno made a strong, low save. The game opened up after Schlupp replaced Jordan Ayew and Silva took off Palhinha, with Muniz’s magnificent switch of play sending Alex Iwobi sauntering along the right flank. The Nigerian international laid it off for Harrison Reed, whose curler from 20 yards went over the crossbar.

Palace kept probing with their eye-catching passing moves and got their reward three minutes from time. Wharton teed up Schlupp, who took a touch before firing a thunderous drive high into the top left corner of the net to the delight of the travelling fans. Both sides pushed for a winner during seven minutes of added time but none was forthcoming despite a threatening run from Harry Wilson that culminated in his low shot from outside the box being blocked by Richards. In truth, a point was the least a purposeful Palace deserved after their early dominance.

FULHAM (4-2-3-1): Leno; Castagne, A. Robinson, Diop, Bassey; Palhinha (Lukic 68), Reed (Cairney 85); De Cordova-Reid (Willian 68), Iwobi, Pereira (Wilson 85); Muniz (Broja 85). Subs (not used): Rodak, Tete, Ream, Traore.

GOAL: Muniz (52).

CRYSTAL PALACE (3-4-2-1): Henderson; Clyne, Richards, Andersen; Munoz, Mitchell (Ahamada 86), Wharton, Hughes; J. Ayew (Schlupp 76), Olise; Mateta (Edouard 69). Subs (not used): Matthews, Ward, Tomkins, Riedewald, Rak-Sakyi, Ozoh.

BOOKED: Hughes, Andersen.

GOAL: Schlupp (87).

REFEREE: Stuart Attwell (Nuneaton).