Fulham continued their impressive early-season form with a dominant 2-0 win over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. The result saw the Cottagers climb to sixth in the Premier League table, level on points with fourth-placed Chelsea, although the Blues still have a game in hand against Arsenal on Sunday.
The victory, which never seemed in doubt after the opening goal, demonstrated the strength of Marco Silva’s side, who could have won by an even greater margin. Emile Smith Rowe was the standout performer, scoring the opener just before halftime, and Harry Wilson sealed the win with a late goal, taking his tally to three goals in a week.
The afternoon was also marred for Palace by a red card for Daichi Kamada, who was sent off in the 76th minute after a reckless challenge on Fulham’s Kenny Tete, compounding a miserable day for the Eagles.
Early Dominance and Smith Rowe’s Opener
From the start, Fulham imposed themselves on the match. Despite a few changes to their line-up—Palace were without key players such as Eddie Nketiah, Eberechi Eze, and Jefferson Lerma—Fulham quickly took control of the game.
In the second minute of added time in the first half, the Cottagers made their breakthrough. Raul Jimenez played a perfectly weighted pass to Smith Rowe, who seized on a defensive mistake from Palace’s Maxence Lacroix. Smith Rowe calmly finished with his left foot, beating goalkeeper Dean Henderson to give Fulham the lead just before the break.
Although the goal was a result of a Palace error, it was a well-executed finish from the 24-year-old, who has been a key figure in Fulham’s strong start to the season since his summer arrival.
Palace Struggle to Make an Impact
With a makeshift midfield and a depleted squad, Palace struggled to mount any sustained pressure on Fulham. Manager Oliver Glasner had hoped to strengthen his midfield by pairing Marc Guehi with debutant Justin Devenny, but the experiment did little to stem the tide. Palace’s only real attacking threat came when they opted for a more direct approach, launching long balls towards striker Jean-Philippe Mateta.
Mateta had a header in the first half from a Devenny cross, but his effort flew just over the bar. Later, a scrappy attempt from Mateta was cleared off the line by Fulham defender Joachim Andersen, but those moments were few and far between.
Fulham, by contrast, sliced through Palace’s defense with ease at times. A second potential goal for Smith Rowe—scored from a sweeping team move—was ruled out by VAR for a marginal offside, and another late strike from substitute Harry Wilson was disallowed after the Welshman was penalized for handball while controlling the ball.
Despite these missed opportunities, Fulham remained firmly in control. Jimenez also came close with a volley, while Alex Iwobi, Reiss Nelson, and Andreas Pereira all saw shots expertly saved by Palace’s goalkeeper Henderson.
Wilson Seals the Victory
Fulham continued to dominate possession after the break, and their superior footballing quality was evident. With seven minutes left, Wilson, who had already netted twice in the week, grabbed his third goal of the week to seal the win.
Wilson finished off a swift counter-attack with a precise shot into the bottom corner, giving Henderson no chance. The goal was a deserved reward for a team that had looked composed and clinical throughout the match.
Palace’s Misery and Kamada’s Red Card
The loss was another setback for Palace, who find themselves in the relegation zone after a poor start to the season. Things went from bad to worse in the 76th minute when Kamada was shown a straight red card for a late and reckless challenge on Kenny Tete. The red card summed up a frustrating afternoon for the Eagles, who were unable to string together any real attacking play, and their defensive errors were ruthlessly punished by a Fulham side that showed greater quality and organization.
Fulham Strong Start and Smith Rowe’s Growing Influence
While Palace struggled, Fulham looked a well-oiled machine, particularly in attack. Smith Rowe was instrumental in his team’s performance, pressing effectively when needed, retaining possession with composure, and linking up well with teammates such as Pereira and Iwobi. The former Arsenal man, who had been struggling for form last season, is showing signs of justifying Fulham’s summer investment in him.
Overall, it was a comprehensive victory for Marco Silva’s side, who seem to be finding their rhythm as the season progresses. With Smith Rowe, Wilson, and Jimenez all contributing, Fulham will look to continue their fine form as they aim for a top-half finish this season. Meanwhile, Palace have much to work on if they are to avoid a relegation battle.
source – BBC
The post Fulham Cruise Past Struggling Crystal Palace to Extend Fine Start appeared first on News365.co.za.
Zim Instantly via Simplex Solutions