Fulham return to Craven Cottage still frustrated that their late surge against Manchester City did not earn them a point and must quickly refocus ahead of Sunday’s London derby against Crystal Palace.
Instead of a famous comeback, they ended a close game with a 5-4 defeat in midweek, dragging City into a frantic campaign that was at one point in danger of slipping away from Guardiola’s side.
advertise
Fulham scored four goals in the second half and equalized late on, but they still gained nothing but a renewed belief that they could cause problems for the division’s strongest team.
Marco Silva’s side sit in the bottom half of the table and are closer to relegation than they thought, adding to the urgency of converting their encouraging performance into points.
They have taken nine points from their last five games and have shown attacking conviction at home, but the scale of the early loss against Manchester City highlighted how costly a lack of concentration can be.
Crystal Palace’s defensive record is testament to their structure and resilience, conceding fewer goals than every team except Arsenal this season.
advertise
Oliver Glasner’s side kept a seventh clean sheet of the season with a 1-0 win over Burnley, a result that moved them up to fifth and put them firmly in the Champions League discussion.
They are one point behind fourth-placed Chelsea and would qualify for Europe’s top competition even from their current position if England retain more places.
Crystal Palace have been inconsistent in recent weeks, with three wins, one draw and two losses in their past six league games, but their ability to close out games has helped them stay competitive near the top of the table.
They will also recognize the opportunity to build further momentum with back-to-back London derby wins, something they have not achieved in more than eight years.
advertise
Fulham will be hoping Crystal Palace’s trend of volatility pays off at Craven Cottage, especially after last season ended with a 2-0 win away from home for both clubs.
They have not beaten Crystal Palace at home in the Premier League since 2005, adding another layer of difficulty to a task that already requires a level of discipline and efficiency that they struggled to find against Manchester City.
Fulham showed they could unsettle a side as strong as Manchester City, but Crystal Palace were less forgiving and unlikely to leave the gap that made a dramatic recovery possible.
Silva’s side may need a more controlled performance to avoid another situation where they spend the afternoon chasing the game rather than calling the shots.
