- Jeffrey Schlupp’s late scorcher cancelled out Rodrigo Muniz’s opener
- Crystal Palace were slick in possession and intense out of it but couldn’t finish
- ‘He’s reaching De Bruyne levels!’ Arsenal maestro Martin Odegaard HAS to be in the running for Player of the Year – Listen to the It’s All Kicking Off! Podcast
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For a team that can often be found on the beach at this time of year, Crystal Palace aren’t half riding the crest of a wave.
Oliver Glasner’s arrival has turned what looked doomed to be a season of stasis into something altogether more exciting, and here in a mid-table meeting with little up for grabs Palace looked anything but unmotivated.
Though they had to settle for a draw at Craven Cottage, Jeffrey Schlupp’s superb equaliser cancelling out Rodrigo Muniz’s opener for Fulham, Palace impressed in securing their 10th point from their last four games. They were slick in possession, intense out of it, and with a little more composure in front of goal might have ran out comfortable winners.
Michael Olise and Chris Richards were most guilty of spurning promising chances as Palace failed to make their dominance count in the first half. That control came in no small part thanks to Adam Wharton, the 20-year-old at the heart of their midfield and almost everything positive they did here.
Fulham showed more after the interval and went ahead through Muniz’s header, but it was no surprise that Palace fought back and Schlupp levelled in spectacular fashion, with two teams who have plenty to be positive about heading into next season unable to be separated.
Palace were without star man Eberechi Eze, who picked up a knee injury in their midweek win over Newcastle, while Tosin Adarabioyo, set to quit Craven Cottage as a free agent in a few months, was absent from Fulham’s squad.
Palace started the brighter and should have taken the lead inside six minutes. Wharton played in Olise, who had time and space inside the Fulham box and looked certain to score but fired wide.
The visitors continued to probe and wanted a penalty when Daniel Munoz tumbled in the area, but in reality the Colombian had forced the contact. Referee Stuart Attwell — rest assured Luton had no skin in the game here, Mr Marinakis — waved play on.
Jean-Philippe Mateta showed none of his recent scoring form in skewing a half-chance way over and Richards went close at a free-kick as a Palace opener looked ever more inevitable.
It didn’t come, though, and after the break Fulham sparked into life. In the 52nd minute, they worked the ball through midfield and out to Timothy Castagne on the right, whose pinpoint cross meant Muniz had the simplest of tasks in heading home his ninth goal in 13 games.
That looked to have secured Fulham three points, but Schlupp had other ideas — rifling in an unstoppable shot from 25 yards out into the top-left corner of the net. It was the least Palace deserved.
