Fulham 1–2 Crystal Palace: Guehi Winner & Wharton Shines

Crystal Palace move into the top four as Guehi scores an 87th-minute winner to grab a win away at Fulham. The night was filled with quality goals, with Wilson’s equaliser a real standout, as his outside of the boot finish was a delightful goal, but it means nothing as they lose back-to-back home games, after their loss to Man City 5–4 in midweek.

Adam Wharton was sensational, yet again, as the English midfielder tightened his grip on a starting spot at the World Cup for Thomas Tuchel with another excellent display. But Palace’s captain ultimately got the winner for the Eagles, as he continues to perform despite his links to Liverpool in the summer, and heavy rumours that he will leave the club next year. 

Fulham started the stronger team, with pressure from the off pinning Palace in to their own half, as a barrage of Fulham attacks were thrown in the first 10 minutes. Multiple corners from the Cottagers led to the first big chance in the game, where Smith-Rowe’s volley from an Iwobi delivery is blocked just over the bar.

Fulham’s pressure started to ease, and Glasner’s side got a foothold in the game, and at the 20th-minute mark, made the breakthrough. Eddie Nketiah finished off a sublime Palace move, with his finish into the bottom right corner, as he scored his 2nd PL goal on his first start in the competition. But the goal was all about the pass from Wharton in the build-up, with a spectacular outside of the boot pass out to Mitchell, before getting it back and laying it to Nketiah to score for 1–0.

Fulham then responded quickly, and were still the better team despite beng a goal down. Smith-Rowe had another opportunity but was tipped over the bar by Dean Henderson, as Palace stayed firm as they have done all season, evident from their defensive record but Fulham’s pressure paid off, as a bit of individual brilliance from Harry Wilson drew them level at 38 minutes. A little give and go with Raul Jimenez created space for the Welshman just outside the box, who brilliantly scored with the outside of his foot past Henderson, for an outstanding goal and potential goal of the month contender.

Going into the second half at 1–1, Fulham looked to push on from their first-half display, and they did. Marco Silva’s team continued to pressure Palace, as they looked the better team again. Smith-Rowe thought he had made the turnaround complete, but his tap-in from the rebound of the crossbar was chalked off, as Chukwueze was deemed offside in the build-up by VAR.

The game then levelled off into a scrappy affair, with both teams having half-chances, but failing to create anything clear-cut. Uche, who came on for Palace, came closest, but he failed to tap in a Mitchell cross not once but twice but in the 87th minute, a towering header from the Eagles’ captain, Marc Guehi, won it at Craven Cottage. A brilliant delivery from Yeremy Pino landed on the head of the Crystal Palace centre-half, and powered it in to put the Eagles into the top four.

A great night for Glasner as they go above Chelsea into fourth place after two wins in a row, and an impressive result away from home in a tight game. For Marco Silva, he will be extremely disappointed, following two back-to-back painful home defeats. Fulham were the better team on the night, but ultimately failed to get anything out of the game.

Fulham stay 15th on 17 points, as they look over their shoulder, as they are still in contention for the drop. Palace move into 4th on 26 points, maintaining their second-best defensive record in the division, with only Arsenal (9) conceding fewer than their 12 goals this season. 

MOTM: Adam Wharton