Fulham return to Craven Cottage still frustrated that their late surge against Manchester City did not earn them a point and must refocus quickly for a demanding London derby against Crystal Palace on Sunday.
Their 5-4 defeat in midweek ended as a near miss rather than a famous comeback, having dragged City into a frantic contest that was briefly in danger of slipping away from Pep Guardiola’s side.
Advertisement
Fulham scored four times in the second half and had a late equaliser cleared off the line, yet they still left with nothing but renewed belief that they can trouble the strongest teams in the division.
Marco Silva’s side sit in the lower half of the table and remain closer to the relegation places than they would like, which adds urgency to their need to convert encouraging performances into points.
They have taken nine points from their last five matches and have shown attacking conviction at home, but the scale of the early damage against City underlined how costly lapses in concentration can be.
Crystal Palace arrive with a defensive record that speaks to their structure and resilience, having conceded fewer goals than all but Arsenal this season.
Advertisement
Oliver Glasner’s team recorded a seventh clean sheet of the campaign by edging Burnley 1-0, a result that lifted them to fifth and kept them firmly involved in the Champions League conversation.
They sit one point behind fourth-placed Chelsea and could qualify for Europe’s top competition even from their current position if England retains additional places.
Palace have been inconsistent across recent weeks, with three wins, a draw and two defeats from their last six league fixtures, but their ability to shut games down has helped them remain competitive near the top.
They will also recognise the opportunity to establish further momentum by securing successive London derby victories, something they have not managed in more than eight years.
Advertisement
Fulham will hope that Palace’s tendency to fluctuate returns at Craven Cottage, particularly after last season’s meetings ended with both clubs winning 2-0 away from home.
They have not beaten Palace at home in the Premier League since 2005, which adds another layer of difficulty to a task that already demands a level of discipline and efficiency they struggled to find early against City.
Fulham showed they can unsettle a side as potent as City, but Palace are less forgiving and far less likely to leave gaps that make dramatic recoveries possible.
Silva’s side may need a more controlled performance to avoid another scenario where they spend the afternoon chasing the game rather than dictating it.
Read the full article here
