Crystal Palace Extend Road Dominance with Win Over Fulham

Crystal Palace continued their remarkable form on the road with a 2-0 victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage, securing their fourth consecutive away win in the Premier League for the first time in the club’s history. An own goal by Fulham defender Joachim Andersen and a clinical finish by Daniel Munoz were enough to hand the Eagles all three points, extending their impressive run of away results.

From the opening whistle, Crystal Palace set the tone, with Jean-Philippe Mateta testing Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno in the first three minutes, finding the side-netting with his shot. Eberechi Eze then had two attempts to break the deadlock, forcing Leno into action with a long-range shot in the 25th minute and a free-kick eight minutes later that the goalkeeper expertly saved.

Despite the early pressure from Crystal Palace, Fulham had their chances. Raul Jimenez was awarded a penalty shout after going down under a challenge from Maxence Lacroix, but referee Robert Jones waved it off. Seconds later, Mateta thought he had scored for Palace after getting on the end of a cross, but his goal was disallowed for a tight offside decision after a VAR review.

Crystal Palace Extend Road Dominance with Win

As the first half wore on, Crystal Palace’s persistence paid off. Will Hughes delivered a well-taken corner aimed at Lacroix, but the ball found its way into the back of the net off the head of Fulham’s Andersen, who had no chance to avoid the unfortunate own goal. The visitors took a deserved 1-0 lead into the break, with Fulham struggling to match Palace’s intensity.

Fulham 0-2 Crystal Palace

The second half saw Palace continue to control the match, and they doubled their advantage in the 66th minute. Mateta, leading a counter-attack, skipped past two Fulham defenders before releasing Colombian wing-back Munoz into the box. Munoz cut inside past Calvin Bassey and fired a powerful shot into the roof of the net, leaving Leno with no chance. It was a well-executed goal that secured all three points for the Eagles.

Fulham, on the other hand, failed to make any impact in the second half. Despite having 10 shots, they could not register a single shot on target, which highlighted the lack of attacking potency in their performance. Adama Traore and Alex Iwobi, who had impressed in recent games, struggled to make an impact on the wings, and the loss was compounded by an injury to Emile Smith Rowe. With their hopes of European qualification slipping away, Marco Silva’s side remained in ninth place with 39 points, six behind their London rivals.

For Palace, the victory was an important step in their push for a top-half finish in the Premier League. This win added to their recent triumphs against Leicester City, West Ham, and Manchester United, making it four consecutive 2-0 away victories. The win also marked a piece of history for manager Oliver Glasner, who completed one year in charge of the club, guiding them to an impressive record on the road.

Palace have now won six and drawn four of their 13 away matches this season, but they have struggled at home with only two wins at Selhurst Park. Eze, reinstated into the starting lineup for the first time since the 2-1 defeat to Brentford last month, was a constant threat in the first half, and Mateta, who scored in all of Palace’s previous away wins, was involved in the build-up to both goals.

Since Glasner replaced Roy Hodgson as manager, Palace’s fortunes have improved significantly after a difficult start to the season. The win over Fulham sees the Austrian manager’s side continue to push for a top-half finish and potentially back-to-back successful campaigns in the Premier League. Glasner has brought stability to the club, and Palace are reaping the rewards of his tactical approach.

For Fulham, the loss was a disappointing setback after recent positive results, including wins over Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest. They now face a crucial test against Wolves on Tuesday, where they will need to bounce back quickly if they are to keep their European ambitions alive. Silva and his side cannot afford to put in performances like this if they are to achieve a top-six finish and potentially secure a spot in next season’s Champions League.

Crystal Palace, meanwhile, will look to carry their momentum into their next match against Aston Villa on the same day, as they continue their push for a place in the top half of the table. The Eagles’ recent away form gives them hope for a strong finish to the season, and their tactical discipline under Glasner makes them a formidable opponent for any team.