Crystal Palace climbed up to fourth place in the Premier League after beating Fulham 2-1 at Craven Cottage on Sunday thanks to Marc Guehi’s late header.
WATCH — Full match replay
Eddie Nketiah put Palace 1-0 up in the first half but a fine finish from Harry Wilson made it 1-1 before the break. Both teams had chances to win it and Fulham had a goal disallowed by VAR for a very close offside, and Palace made them pay.
Guehi’s late header from a corner sent the Palace fans wild as Oliver Glasner’s side are in dreamland as their small squad juggles a top four push with a Europa Conference League campaign. This is Palace’s best-ever position after 15 games of a Premier League season and the reigning FA Cup champs are dreaming of Champions League qualification, which would be remarkable given the size of the squad.
Palace sit fourth in the Premier League table and are on 26 points, while Fulham remain in the relegation scrap and stay on 17 points.
Wharton, Mitchell pushing for England spots as Palace defy belief
There were a couple of players who stepped up for Palace in this tight win and they are two players who perhaps fly under the radar: Tyrick Mitchell and Adam Wharton. The latter has received plenty of praise over the last 12 months but he doesn’t appear to be high up on the list of options for England manager Thomas Tuchel. He should be with his wonderful range of passing and he showed that off for Nketiah’s opener and throughout this win. Wharton gets you on the front foot so often and is perfect for this Palace team. So too is Mitchell, who is thriving as a left wing-back and is so consistent. Defensively he barely puts a foot wrong and on Sunday he whipped in dangerous crosses and was always an option high up the field. Is there a better English left back in the Premier League right now? There isn’t. With Marc Guehi and Dean Henderson both in the England setup and the former a starter and the latter pushing Jordan Pickford for the starting spot, it’s not outlandish to say that when England head to the World Cup next summer there should be at least four Palace players in their squad.
What’s next?
Fulham head to Burnley on Saturday in a huge game. Palace head to Shelbourne in the Conference League on Thursday, then host Manchester City on Sunday.
Fulham vs Crystal Palace score: 1-2
Wilson 38'; Nketiah 20', Guehi 87'
Fulham vs Crystal Palace live updates! — By Joe Prince-Wright
Guehi heads home what is surely the winner!
Well, that was coming. A corner is whipped in and Marc Guehi heads home in front of the jubilant Palace fans. They deserve that winner. Guehi was much stronger than King and flicks home at the near post.
Leno denies Uche
Another great cross from Mitchell from the left and Uche is stretching and gets something on it, but Leno saves. Palace look the more likely to win this late on.
Palace pushing hard
Uche and Lerma are on and the former almost puts Palace ahead right away. A cross from the left is begging to be finished but Uche can’t quite get on the end of it and it takes a flick off Bassey and just creeps wide.
Nketiah and Pino almost squeeze it home
A cross into the box causes chaos and Fulham can’t clear it. Nketiah is flying in with Pino and Leno is there bravely to save. Somehow Fulham escape.
Smith Rowe scores... but VAR rules it out for offside
Emile Smith Rowe does really well to win the ball back and keep the move alive. The cross from Chukwueze then comes in from the left and Iwobi’s header crashes against the post, but the ball falls straight to Smith Rowe who tucks home the rebound. But VAR is checking for an offside and Chukwueze was just off before he whipped in the cross. That is so tight. It remains 1-1.
Half time: Fulham 1-1 Crystal Palace
That was a really fun first half. Two lovely goals from Nketiah and Wilson as these two teams are going at it and both will fancy their chances of winning it in the second half. Very even and entertaining London derby so far.
Wilson’s fine finish after a lovely give and go!
Harry Wilson has a penchant for the spectacular and this was certainly another fine goal to add to his collection. Iwobi plays it in to Wilson and his little flick around the corner to Jimenez is perfect. Jimenez plays it back to Wilson and he caresses the ball into the far corner with the outside of his foot. That is special from the Welsh forward. 1-1.
Big chance for Palace!
Mitchell’s cross goes all the way across goal to the other wing-back, Nathaniel Clyne. But he gets h is first effort all wrong and then Bassey blocks his second attempt. That was a big chance for Palace to make it 2-0.
Henderson with a fine stop to deny Smith Rowe
Berge plays in Emile Smith Rowe and his drilled shot looks to be going in but Henderson stays tall and gets a strong hand on it to push it over the bar. Fulham have responded well to going behind.
Nketiah finishes a superb team move!
This is a superb goal from Palace. A long ball to the left finds Mitchell and he sets up Wharton who plays a lovely reverse pass to Nketiah. He takes a touch and drills home a low shot. Wonderful passing and movement from Palace as Fulham were torn wide open.
Smith Rowe’s shot deflects just wide
A corner is whipped in an it’s a lovely volley from Emile Smith Rowe. It flicks off Marc Guehi and flies inches wide of the top corner. Brilliant block from the Palace captain. Fulham have started well.
Fulham lineup
Leno; Tete, Andersen, Bassey, Castagne; Berge, Iwobi; Wilson, Smith Rowe, Chukwueze; Jimenez
Crystal Palace lineup
Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Guehi; Clyne, Wharton, Kamada, Mitchell; Pino, Nketiah; Mateta
Fulham team news, focus
OUT: Antonee Robinson (knee), Rodrigo Muniz (thigh)
Crystal Palace team news, focus
OUT: Caleb Kporha (back), Cheick Doucoure (knee), Rio Cardines (adductor) | QUESTIONABLE: Chadi Riad (knee), Borna Sosa (leg).
Fulham vs Crystal Palace preview
The Cottagers have won three-of-five Premier League matches and nearly came back from a four-goal deficit in a 5-4 loss to Manchester City at midweek. Their 17 points are six behind fifth-place Palace. Palace have suffered through fits and starts of late but most recently beat Burnley to pull within a single point of the top four.
The Eagles are the Premier League’s second-stingiest defense with 11 conceded goals, four more than leaders Arsenal, but they’ve been quite reliant on Jean-Philippe Mateta at the other end. The Frenchman has seven of their 18 PL goals, while fullback Daniel Munoz and winger Ismaila Sarr the only other players with multiple goals (three).
Fulham vs Crystal Palace prediction
This should be a tight and tense match, especially with both teams having played twice in the last week and not exactly the deepest squads in the Premier League. There’s savvy on both sides, but who’s ready for the fight? Fulham 1-1 Crystal Palace.
How to watch Fulham vs Crystal Palace live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 11:30am ET Sunday
Venue: Craven Cottage — West London
TV Channel: USA
Streaming: Watch live on NBC.com
