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, who squeezed a shot through Henderson into the far corner.
Palace offered the first threat at the start of the second period. Ismaïla Sarr snuck a ball through to Daniel Munoz, but Leno gamely dived at the winger’s feet before debutant Justin Devenney drilled the follow-up high into the Holmesdale End. The offside flag was belatedly raised – making Leno’s bravery largely redundant. Smith Rowe then thought he’d doubled his tally, but the VAR adjudged him to be just ahead of Tyrick Mitchell after a long wait. The Whites kept pushing for the crucial second, with Andreas Pereira seeing a swerving shot superbly saved by Henderson, Jimenez just clearing the crossbar from a corner and both Nelson and Iwobi coming close as well.
The home side’s hopes of getting back into the contest evaporated when Kamada saw red for a horribly high challenge on Tete. 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 could barely believe his finish from Adama Traore’s cross had been ruled out for handball, but the Cottagers had already underlined their superiority over Glasner’s strugglers.
CRYSTAL PALACE (3-4-2-1): Henderson; Chalobah, Lacroix, Guehi; Clyne (Doucouré 62), Mitchell, Muñoz (Kporha 88), Devenny (Schlupp 74); Kamada, Sarr (Agbinone 88), Mateta. Subs (not used): Turner, Matthews, Ward, Richards, Schlupp, Marsh.
BOOKED: Lacroix.
SENT OFF: Kamada (76).
FULHAM (4-2-3-1): Leno; Tete, A. Robinson, Andersen, Bassey; Berge, Pereira (Cairney 83); Iwobi (Traore 89), Nelson (Wilson 82), Smith Rowe (Reed 89); Jimenez (Muniz 75). Subs (not used): Benda, Castagne, R. Sessegnon, Diop, Reed.
BOOKED: Iwobi.
GOALS: Smith Rowe (45+2), Wilson (83).
REFEREE: Michael Salisbury (Lancashire).
ATTENDANCE: 25,142.
Good win and should have scored more against this weak and injury depleted team !!
We totally dominated proceeding from the go. Our boys oozed confidence and this was a match that we could never lose. Lets meep in mind we were playing away from home to a team getting back its mojo through results. A great team performance including Pereira, who was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet when Henderson literally didn’t know what hit him wben he saved with his face. A win at home against Wolves and we can start dreaming about European places. COYW
So many great individual performances but I thought Iwobi’s was huge.
Great performance from the team every one of them there some consistency starting to appear by keeping the same team but we must not get carried away you will always get the odd injury just as we produce another good performance we go into yet another bloody international break let’s hope when our players return they don’t come back injured and still achieve the same momentum I think perhaps Nelson has to start now the lad looks a really good player and having ESR and Iwobi is helping him I think maybe we should try to sign him permanently in the next window before any one else does roll on to Wolvesin two weeks time
Perhaps instead of saying Brentford and Palace were poor we should be saying we made them look bad. 2 outstanding performances from us. No team has made us look bad this season!! There is a difference this season…..we look younger and more dynamic. COYW
Well done lads you can only beat what’s in front of you yes they had injuries but the players coming in will be putting out more effort to impress their manager. We need to start thinking of Wolves now and to concentrate until the final whistle where would be now but for conceding late in games Man Utd, West Ham and Everton COYW.
Why was my comment not accepted?
I have been supporting Fulham as a season ticket holder since the late 1950’s. Whilst the current team may not be the best I have watched over the years I believe we now have the best ever squad. Personally in the January transfer window I would like to see us sign a target player ,as when Leno kicks a long ball up to our strikers it invariable comes straight back. It would give us a Plan B. Otherwise a wonderful start to the season long may it continue