Fulham go in search of a first home league win over Crystal Palace in twenty years this afternoon in good heart after three consecutive victories. Marco Silva’s side came from behind to stun Newcastle United at St. James’ Park and survived a stirring second half fightback by League One Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup before producing their most complete performance of the campaign in beating high-flying Nottingham Forest at Craven Cottage last weekend.

Silva, who is far from taking the Eagles lightly despite Oliver Glasner’s side still sitting in a lowly thirteenth place given their astonishing away form, received a fitness boost in the build up to this came with Sasa Lukic’s hamstring strain proving not as serious as first feared. The Serbian international has been Fulham’s finest performer of the season, which is especially impressive as the former Torino number ten has slotted superbly into the role vacated by Joao Palhinha, and his partnership with summer signing Sander Berge has shown signs of seriously blossoming over the past month.

The duo were dominant against Forest’s midfield three at the Cottage last weekend and, if Lukic is considered fit enough to start this afternoon, will be crucial in preventing Palace’s own excellent engine room trio of Will Hughes, Jefferson Lerma and Justin Devenny, who has grown into his role in the middle of the park since making his debut during Fulham’s success at Selhurst Park back in November. Even if Lukic is introduced from the bench, Silva suddenly seems to have a surfeit of riches in the middle of the park, with Harrison Reed now back after a lengthy injury absence plus the experience of Tom Cairney and the yothful exuberance of Josh King also available.

Silva waxed lyrical about how Palace – somehow beaten by an improving Everton last time out in the league – have proven dangerous on the road. The Eagles will be aiming for a fourth successive top-tier away win in a row for the first time in their illustrious history. As much as the creativity of Eberechi Eze, expected to be fit after injury, has been crucial in supplying the in-form Jean-Phillipe Mateta, Palace’s strength on their travels has been built on a rock solid defence, with five clean sheets in that run, as Maxence Lacroix has slotted seamlessly into a back three alongside Chris Richards and England international Mark Guehi.

Joachim Andersen has strengthened Fulham’s rearguard since his switch back to the Cottage from south-east London at the tail end of the summer transfer window, but both he and Calvin Bassey are likely to have their hands full against Mateta, who could become the first Palace player to score in fourth consecutive Premier League fixtures. The French forward bagged braces at West Ham United and Manchester United and has scored fourteen goals in thirty appearances this season to follow the nineteen in 39 games in 2023/2024. The fluidity of Glasner’s flexible system will also test Fulham’s defensive discipline with Silva unafraid to push his own full-backs forward.

Palace have a good recent record at Craven Cottage – having beaten unbeaten in their last five visits, including an entertaining 2-2 draw at the end of last season. This will be a stern test of Fulham’s recent revival as well as whether they can put points on the board against a side who will start this London derby outside the Premier League’s top twelve. The European push we all talk about requires the Whites to match their own strong showings on their travels by becoming more ruthless at home in a ridiculously congested table.

MY FULHAM XI (4-2-3-1): Leno; Castagne, A. Robinson, Andersen, Bassey; Berge, Lukic; Traore, Iwobi, Smith Rowe; Jimenez. Subs: Benda, Cuenca, Diop, R. Sessegnon, Reed, Cairney, King, Pereira, Muniz.