Friday Fulham Stuff - 02/01/26...

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Results

Thursday 01/01
Palace	1-1	Fulham
		Cairney
Liverpool	0-0	Leeds
Brentford	0-0	Spurs
Sunderland	0-0	Man City

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Crystal Palace 1-1 Fulham

At a glance

    Jean-Philippe Mateta heads Palace into lead

    Tom Cairney equalises with superb goal

    Fulham unbeaten in four league games

    Palace without a win in six matches in all competitions

A brilliant goal from Tom Cairney salvaged a point for Fulham and extended Crystal Palace's winless run in the Premier League in an edgy encounter at Selhurst Park.

Substitute Cairney curled a superb shot in from the edge of the area, after Jean-Philippe Mateta had headed Palace into the lead.

The Eagles had the better of the match until they faded after half-time, with Raul Jimenez hitting the post with a header for the Cottagers just before the hour.

Fulham could have claimed three points with chances in stoppage time, but Dean Henderson made a fine save to deny Timothy Castagne, while Joachim Andersen blazed over from close range.

The result extended Palace's run of games without a win in the league to four, while Fulham are unbeaten in four.

Palace are ninth in the table, one place above Fulham on goal difference.

Earlier on Thursday, Tottenham attacker Brennan Johnson agreed to join Palace in a deal worth £35m.

Palace analysis: Eagles 'in survival mode'
Palace played eight games in 25 days in December, their Conference League campaign and League Cup quarter-final defeat testing the options at Oliver Glasner's disposal.

The Austrian stuck by the side that started the loss to Tottenham, meaning Glasner had made only 19 changes in the league this season, the fewest of any top-flight manager.

"We are in survival mode right now," he said.

"As long as the legs did what we wanted them to do, we were OK. I have huge appreciation for the players - I can see their effort.

"We have so many games and the squad is quite short of numbers, but they give everything they have. I know these players will give their best in every single game."

The imminent arrival of Johnson should give Palace a boost, with the 24-year-old attacker - Spurs' top scorer with 18 goals last season - offering much-needed cutting edge to a team that have played 31 games this term.

There was little sign of lethargy once the early exchanges were done, with Marc Guehi going close with a stabbed shot from close range that forced a save from Bernd Leno.

Mateta rose to a cross chipped in from the right by Nathaniel Clyne to put Palace ahead, the Eagles taking advantage after the referee insisted Fulham defender Jorge Cuenca be treated off the pitch.

But it was a struggle after the break for the hosts, with a header from Maxence Lacroix blocked by team-mate Guehi after Leno had touched a corner on to the crossbar.

Palace were hanging on in stoppage time, and better finishing from Fulham would have meant Glasner's side starting 2026 on a losing note.

Fulham analysis: So close to fourth win in a row
Defeat at home to Palace on 7 December left Fulham in 15th - four points above the relegation zone - stirring the Cottagers into an excellent spell around Christmas.

Three wins in the league since that loss moved them into the top half of the table for the first time in three months and, with a good record against struggling teams, the trip to Palace may have held few worries for Marco Silva's side.

They could have taken the lead in a chaotic sequence in which Emile Smith Rowe scuffed a shot, Harry Wilson had an effort saved by Henderson and Jimenez rolled the ball wide within a few seconds.

Their resilience after going behind paid off after the break, with Jimenez unlucky to see his header from a Antonee Robinson cross bounce up and off the upright.

Silva's substitutions, from a bench with much more experience than Glasner's, played a big part and Fulham's leveller, after superb skill from Cairney, was thoroughly deserved.

They would have had a club record-equalling fourth straight Premier League win but for poor finishing from Castagne and Anderson in the dying minutes.

What's next?
Palace travel to Newcastle United on Sunday before hosting Aston Villa on Wednesday.

Fulham entertain defending champions Liverpool on Sunday and Chelsea on Wednesday.



https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/live/c8e90y8r7y4t

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Post-Crystal Palace Press Conference
Marco Silva was pleased with Fulham's desire to take all three points at Selhurst Park on New Year's Day, something he believes we would have been good value for.

Tom Cairney came off the bench to sweep home a wonderful equaliser with 10 minutes remaining, before Timothy Castagne and Joachim Andersen saw good chances come and go in stoppage time.

"I agree that we probably deserved more from the game," Silva said. "Tight game, as we expected, both teams respecting each other.

"We were more in control of the game before they scored, I think we were more the team on the front foot to try to win the game. We created some dangerous moments, not clearcut chances for both sides, but dangerous moments.

"I think we arrived in dangerous areas very well – the last moment, last run, the last finish probably we were lacking a bit more aggressiveness inside the box.

"After the goal, okay, Palace instilled their confidence a little bit, they arrived in dangerous areas more, and was a little bit difficult for us to react until half-time.

"Half-time we adjusted things, we changed our pressure, we gave some steps in terms of the high press, and the reaction was very good.

"I'm pleased for the players. Even before the goal, I think we created great moments to score – great header from Raúl, we were very unlucky again with that off the post.

"Great goal, what a goal from Tom. The two players that came in, first Timo and after Tom Cairney, they had an impact.

"Even when we changed the position of Saša, I think he did very, very well as a six, a little bit more freedom the way he was receiving the ball in high lines, with them very narrow.

"We knew after the 1-0 that they are going to be low again, very compact again, and we have to be patient. And we need a player like Tom that moment, and Saša did it very well.

"I think the goal is a good example where Saša received the ball, how we break the lines and, of course, top finish from Tom Cairney. Great goal from us, really deserved.

"And, of course, I'm very pleased with the ambition again of the team in the end of the game, playing away from home, we are the team pushing more to win the game and controlling the game in our offensive half again.

"In that moment, we created two clear chances to score. Palace had one dangerous corner as well, but two clear chances to score, and overall probably deserved more from the game again against Palace, because we were the team that created more throughout the game."

We were trailing at the break to Jean-Philippe Mateta's header, one he scored when he only had to compete with one centre-back rather than two.

That was because Jorge Cuenca had temporarily been ordered off the pitch, though Silva's argument was that he should have been allowed to remain, as he quickly made it clear that no treatment was required.

"They scored in the moment that the game was controlled and, to be honest, a moment that we should not be playing with 10 men.

"If a player goes down, if he feels the arm or the hand in his face, I think it's a normal reaction to go down. Cuenca was standing up so quick in that moment. The first steps from the medical staff on the pitch, Cuenca was already standing up.

"Not a reason to call the medical staff in any moment, because the game should be played 11 against 11, and not 11 against 10.

"Okay, if it's a concussion, you can feel that it's a concussion, can be something dangerous, you can call the medical staff, but not every time. This afternoon was completely without a reason for Cuenca to be out in that moment.

"Of course, looking for me and for ourselves, we should defend better in that moment, should be more mature in that moment.

"Of course, we lost the duel with Robinson with [Nathaniel] Clyne, and gave them the chance to create inside the box. We have the conditions to defend better that situation, but without a reason to be with 10 men."



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2026/january/01/post-crystal-palace-press-conference/

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Vintage Cairney strike earns point for Fulham at Palace
A vintage Tom Cairney strike earned Fulham a point and maintained their unbeaten run.

The Whites, who had won their previous three Premier League matches, went behind at Selhurst Park when Crystal Palace forward Jean-Philippe Mateta headed in Nathaniel Clyne's 39th-minute cross.

But they fought back, and Raul Jimenez hit the post before Cairney hauled them level in the 80th minute.

The fans' favourite, as he done has so many times for Fulham, found the net with a glorious hit from near the edge of the penalty area.

The visitors would then have gone ahead had keeper Dean Henderson not produced a fine save to deny Timothy Castagne after good work by Jimenez.

And in stoppage time, Fulham's former Palace defender Joachim Andersen missed a great chance when he shot over.
Fulham: Leno, Tete (Castagne 51), Andersen, Cuenca, Robinson, Berge (Cairney 67), Lukic, Wilson (Traore 85), Smith Rowe, Kevin (Reed 85), Jimenez.
Subs not used: Lecomte, Amissah, Diop, Ridgeon, Kusi-Asare.



https://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/vintage-cairney-strike-earns-point-for-fulham-at-palace

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Fulham plot move for Yeremay Hernandez
Fulham are ready to make a €40 million offer to sign Deportivo La Coruna attacking sensation Yeremay Hernandez.

Yeremay Hernandez has had a sensational rise at Deportivo La Coruna, and it has resulted in a lot of interest from across Europe. According to a report from Fichajes, Fulham are keen on signing the Spanish winger, and they are willing to make a €40 million investment to sign him from the Spanish second division.

Hernandez, who was a part of Real Madrid's youth setup back in the day, joined La Coruna back in 2017. He went up the ranks at a pace and got promoted to the first team in the summer of 2022. He has only gone from strength to strength since and has established himself as one of their mainstays.

He already has over 100 first-team appearances and has contributed towards 45 goals. The 23-year-old has been on fire in the ongoing campaign and is one of the major reasons why La Coruna are pushing for promotion to the Spanish top flight.

In his 19 league appearances, Hernandez has seven goals and five assists. His red-hot form, his ability to unsettle defences with his pace and dribbling and his finishing are major reasons why top clubs are interested in him.

His impact on his team's performances have increased his value significantly. While he might be playing in the Spanish second division, big clubs from across Europe want him.

Fulham are keen on signing Hernandez
Multiple clubs in England have been keeping tabs on him, and Fulham are one of them. The Cottagers seek more firepower in the final third, and they believe Hernandez could help their cause.

Not only will he add more quality on the left flank, but he could also chip in as a striker or a number ten when needed. He will add a lot of creativity as well as goals to the mix.

Fulham have been following him for some time. Since they consider him to be an ideal fit for the Premier League, they are ready to fork out €40 million to bring him to London.

While he is an integral part of La Coruna's setup, a €40 million offer could be very difficult to turn down, as it will guarantee financial stability and allow them to reinforce their squad as a whole.

An opportunity to move to the Premier League will certainly tempt Hernandez. However, he won't rush into a decision, and his camp will carefully analyse everything. They do not want to make the jump too quickly and end up hampering his career.



https://thehardtackle.com/transfer-news/2026/01/02/fulham-plot-move-for-yeremay-hernandez/

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Crystal Palace 1-1 Fulham
Fulham came from behind to draw 1-1 at Crystal Palace on New Year's Day.

A slow start to the game was punctuated by Jean-Philippe Mateta's header, as the Eagles took full advantage of our temporary reduction to 10 men following a head injury sustained by Jorge Cuenca.

But Tom Cairney stepped off the bench to curl in a trademark TC effort to restore parity with 10 minutes to play.

The Whites were not content with the draw, though, and should have won it through either Timothy Castagne or Joachim Andersen in stoppage time. Nonetheless, the unbeaten run extends to a fourth match.

For the third Premier League game in a row, Marco Silva named an unchanged XI. The only alteration to the bench saw Josh King miss out, with fellow Academy product Samuel Amissah drafted in to replace him.

The first 20 minutes passed without either side attempting a shot. Fulham had enjoyed the lion's share of possession, but it was Bernd Leno who was first seriously called into action when he was forced to tip Maxence Lacroix's dinked cross over his own bar.

We burst into action in the next passage of play, though. Good combination work down the left between Emile Smith Rowe and Kevin fashioned a chance for Harry Wilson in the box. His rising half volley was beaten away by Dean Henderson, with Raúl Jiménez sending the rebound wide.

At the other end, Marc Guehi was denied by Leno from point blank range in the six yard box, with Yeremy Pino curling the loose ball wide.

The game was opening up as the half progressed, and after Saša Lukić's 20 yarder was blocked and fell for Kenny Tete, he was unfortunate to see him dipping volley just fly the wrong side of the crossbar.

Mateta headed his team in front six minutes from the break. With Fulham a centre-back light as Cuenca had to remain off the pitch after going down with a head injury, the home side capitalised mercilessly when Nathaniel Clyne beat Robinson before bending a fine cross on the head of Mateta who had space to nod beyond Leno.

The Eagles ended the half strongly after edging in front, with Clyne sending a volley into the ground and marginally wide, and Will Hughes drilling a snapshot in the same direction, though this one wasn't as much of a threat to Leno's goal.

But it was the Whites who had the final chances of the half, Henderson beating Kevin's wicked curler straight to Wilson, whose follow-up was blocked by Lacroix.

Raúl came agonisingly close to an equaliser with our first chance of the second half, sending Robinson's 58th minute delivery into the ground and back across goal. Henderson was beaten but it clipped the post and was cleared.

The Eagles then twice threatened to double their lead at a corner. First, Leno made amends for punching the ball towards towards his own net by backpeddling and tipping it onto the bar, before Lacroix sent the rebound into a teammate on the line.

Kevin had been able to deliver a number of crosses from the left throughout the game, and his latest picked out the far post run of Castagne – on for the injured Tete – who nodded down into the clutches of Henderson.

Cairney was another who'd been introduced, and his telling impact came with 10 minutes remaining, bending home a gorgeous strike beyond the reach of Henderson from inside the D, following patient build-up from Robinson and Lukić.

Fulham were the side who were more motivated to find a winner thereafter, and only a stunning save from Henderson denied Castagne a stoppage time winner as he looked to pick out the top corner.

There was still time for the Whites to threaten another late winner, but Andersen instinctively blasted over when the ball dropped to him at a corner, meaning we had to settle for a point on the road.



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2026/january/01/crystal-palace-1-1-fulham/

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Crystal Palace 1-1 Fulham: Tom Cairney stunner rescues derby point for Cottagers
Oliver Glasner's beleaguered Eagles take winless run to six matches

Tom Cairney's fine equaliser for Fulham saw Crystal Palace's winless streak extend to six matches in a 1-1 draw at Selhurst Park.

Palace were bidding to avoid a fourth straight Premier League defeat and Jean-Philippe Mateta handed his side the advantage when he opened the scoring in the 39th minute.

Fulham's Raul Jimenez hit the post in the second half before Palace defender Maxence Lacroix saw Bernd Leno claw his header on to the crossbar.

However, Marco Silva's side denied Palace a much-needed win when he struck from the edge of the penalty area with 10 minutes remaining.

Dean Henderson then stopped the visitors from taking all three points in injury time when he produced a fine one-handed stop to deny Timothy Castagne from close range.

The stalemate in south London - which takes Palace and Fulham up to ninth and 10th respectively - was played out against the backdrop of Brennan Johnson closing in on his £35million transfer from Tottenham.

Johnson, deemed surplus to requirements by Spurs manager Thomas Frank, could complete his switch to Palace before the close of the week.

Fulham arrived here as the in-form team - with three consecutive wins as well as four clean sheets on their previous four visits to Selhurst Park - and they spent the opening 30 minutes of a match lacking real intensity in the ascendancy.

The Cottagers might have taken the lead midway through the first half only for Harry Wilson to fire Kevin's cross straight at Henderson, and then Jimenez side-footed the rebound wide when he might have done better.

Palace, who have failed to win a match of any sort since they saw off Shelbourne in the Conference League on December 11, started like a team lacking in confidence, but Leno was required to deny Marc Guehi from close range, and then the hosts delivered the breakthrough.

Mateta had been on a run of seven games without finding the back of the net, but he was at his clinical best to head home Nathaniel Clyne's sumptuous cross - although Antonee Robinson should have provided a sterner challenge to stop the Palace full-back. It marked Mateta's first goal from open play in two months.

Clyne then scuffed a half-volley wide of Leno's post before Will Hughes' low effort was also wayward. In first-half stoppage time, Henderson parried Kevin's long-range effort away from danger.

A chance for Fulham to draw level arrived shortly before the hour mark when Jimenez headed Robinson's whipped cross into the turf and on to Henderson's post.

Palace came close to doubling their advantage on 73 minutes after Leno tipped Lacroix's header from a corner on to the crossbar. Lacroix was first to react but his second header struck team-mate Guehi, standing virtually on the goal line, in the face and Fulham remained in the contest.

Palace were now largely camped in their own half and the home supporters, who last witnessed a Palace win at Selhurst Park on November 1, were growing increasingly anxious.

And the visitors were back in the fixture with 10 minutes remaining when Cairney in a central position on the edge of the box, wrapped his his left foot around the ball to deliver a wonderful curling shot that left Henderson with no chance.

Henderson was then needed in the first minute of injury time to stop Castagne's effort before Joachin Andersen blazed over from six yards out as Palace survived.



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/crystal-palace-fulham-result-premier-league-mateta-cairney-glasner-silva-b1264637.html

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Glasner's Crystal Palace in 'survival mode' as Fulham leveller extends winless run
It is a strange quirk of this fixture that the away side has not lost for the last 10 Premier League meetings between Crystal Palace and Fulham, with the substitute Tom Cairney's late equaliser ensuring that streak goes on.

Only a brilliant save in added time from Dean Henderson and a glaring miss from the former Palace player Joachim Andersen denied Marco Silva's side all the points after falling behind to Jean-Philippe Mateta's first goal from open play since 1 November. But Oliver Glasner was still bitterly disappointed that his team could not end a sequence of six games without a victory in all competitions after running out of steam again in their 31st match of the season. "We are a little bit in survival mode," said the Palace manager, whose team now face three games in the space of seven days.

At least Palace supporters can console themselves with the impending arrival of Brennan Johnson for a club record fee of £35m from Tottenham having completed the first part of his medical while these two teams were slugging it out in south London. The Wales forward will add some much-needed firepower to Palace's faltering attack, with the FA Cup winners also pursuing another striker to provide some back-up for Mateta, having registered their interest in 19-year-old Sidiki Cherif from Angers.

Mateta – so often the player who sets the tone for Palace – has been labouring in recent weeks but took his goal brilliantly. However, they could not kill off a spirited Fulham side who were nine points behind their London rivals when they were beaten at Craven Cottage in early December and now found themselves trailing only on goal difference.

Both sides were unchanged after experiencing a contrasting few weeks, with Fulham having recorded three straight Premier League wins since their last meeting to ease themselves away from any relegation peril. Silva insisted this week that their recent success would not affect their "clear plan" for the January window, with another striker a major priority given Rodrigo Muniz is not due back from injury until next month.

They enjoyed some threatening moments during an opening period that was strangely lacking in intensity but couldn't make the most of a couple of decent chances. The in-form Harry Wilson forced Henderson into action for the first time but Raúl Jiménez could only scuff the rebound wide.

Palace had to wait until the 32nd minute for their first sight of goal when Marc Guéhi was denied from close range by Bernd Leno. They were given a helping hand when Jorge Cuenca went down with a head injury after a challenge from Justin Devenny when there had appeared to be minimal contact. He was ordered off for treatment by referee Tony Harrington and could only watch from the sidelines as Nathaniel Clyne was able to pick out Mateta at the far post, with Silva looking less than amused at what he felt was an overzealous application of the rules.

"It was a strange decision," said the Fulham manager. "We should not have been playing with 10 men in that moment because our player was in a condition to keep going." His mood would have soured further if Clyne and Will Hughes had taken their chances to extend Palace's lead before the break. A hamstring injury to Kenny Tete forced Fulham into an early change in the second half before Hughes was also forced off to add to Glasner's injury concerns.

Mateta should have been more alert to convert a clever pass from the outstanding Yeremy Pino that would have given Palace breathing space. Jiménez almost made them pay when his header from Antonee Robinson's cross struck a post. Leno was fortunate to escape when he pushed the ball onto the bar after an initial mistake and Guéhi somehow blocked teammate Maxence Lacroix's effort on the line.

It proved to be a crucial moment as Fulham eventually found their equaliser after a combination between Robinson, Wilson and Cairney's brilliant finish with his left foot that was celebrated with a double fist pump from Silva. Timothy Castagne should have settled it only to be denied by a diving Henderson before Andersen was left with his head in his hands when his shot with virtually the last kick of the match sailed into the stands.



https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/tom-cairney-earns-fulham-point-195704118.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly9jLm5ld3Nub3cuY28udWsv&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAACe1SKMWrP1EzRackgOVUxCkGIhPWERK9oUB21ANPOX46DEjT6umUpKL26oekXskTzW5ERZdWL6jUN7gR7CYNATslJMvJGnnQ93pWvrsmVAVSkyXpxn1XyfthZbJn0Kmp5LMTslrgEWP_wcDJgG1ngD8hyQPqTQ1Zusp5GNJBeHW

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Marco Silva senses 'the mood is different' at Fulham thanks to positive form
The Cottagers hope to take their end of year momentum into 2026.

Marco Silva spoke about the mood at Fulham heading into the new year.

The Cottagers have been competitive in most of their Premier League fixtures this season, but the fine margins continually went against them. The head coach was reeling off the back of a muted summer transfer window, and he has had to deal with three AFCON related absences from the side.

However, with the help of an in-form Harry Wilson, the team have picked up in terms of their results. Despite a 2-1 loss to Newcastle United in the quarterfinals of the Carabao Cup, Fulham won three on the bounce against Burnley, Nottingham Forest, and West Ham to end 2025.

Only four points behind Man United and Chelsea, Silva's side can start to look up the table again.

"Of course, if you are winning games – and tough games – and the team is reacting very, very, very well, you can understand that, and you can realise that the mood is different.

"Our faces, they don't lie. No one was so, so down before that, like no one is over the moon [now], but of course we are satisfied with the reaction of the team.

"Some players have been playing and reacting well. Others, they have to give another step forward to keep showing their quality.

"But the main thing for us is about the unit, is about the group, and all the group is reacting very, very well for all the circumstances that the Premier Leagueis showing to you.

"About ourselves as a group, they have been very good, and let's hope that tomorrow we can perform again, we can be that focused, a team that shows our organisation, and wait for the quality and inspiration of some of our players – it's needed in a football match to be there in the top level."



https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2026/01/01/fulham/1245992-marco-silva-senses-the-mood-isdifferent-at-fulham-thanks-to-positive-formthe-cottagers-hope-to-take-their-endof-year-momentum-into-2026.html

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Crystal Palace 1-1 Fulham: Highlights, man of the match, stats as Tom Cairney rescues Premier League point for Marco Silva
Out-of-sorts Crystal Palace kicked off their 2026 Premier League calendar with a 1-1 draw against in-form Fulham at Selhurst Park on New Year's Day.

The Eagles have enjoyed a strong campaign so far overall, but they ended 2025 with a dire run that saw them lose four of their last five games - drawing the other - and it took them 31 minutes to register their first shot on Thursday.

However, after absorbing some early pressure from the Cottagers, Oliver Glasner's side found the breakthrough courtesy of Jean-Philippe Mateta, who headed a Nathaniel Clyne cross beyond Bernd Leno.

Perhaps controversially, Fulham centre-back Jorge Cuenca was waiting to re-enter the field of play at the time of the goal, leaving Marco Silva's men short at the back when defending the ball into the box.

The second 45 was more active in terms of goalmouth action, with visiting striker Raul Jimenez hitting the woodwork around the hour mark, before an error from Leno handed a chance to Maxence Lacroix, though Marc Guehi blocked his teammate's header.

The Cottagers eventually fashioned an equaliser late on thanks to substitute Tom Cairney, whose beautiful half-volley 10 minutes from time earned his team a point on the road.

SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT
Palace may have extended their winless run to six matches across all competitions, but the hosts will be happy to have ended their three-game losing run in the Premier League at the start of the year.

The Eagles will also be delighted to have Mateta back on the scoresheet considering that the Frenchman had blanked for seven matches on the bounce, and if he can return to producing regularly, then another push for Europe is on the cards in the second half of the season.

As things stand, Glasner's side sit ninth in the top flight, where their tally of 27 points sees them just three behind fifth-placed Chelsea, and six short of fourth-placed Liverpool.

Meanwhile, Fulham were looking for a third consecutive win on Thursday, but the fact that the point they earned by coming from a goal down has them 10th - level with Palace - will be some consolation.

The Cottagers endured an uncharacteristically poor start to the campaign, but it seems that Silva's men truly turned a corner at the end of 2025 and start of 2026 after winning three, drawing one and losing just one of their last five outings.

MAN OF THE MATCH - NATHANIEL CLYNE
The right-back is known for his defensive strengths, but he delivered an excellent cross to lay the ball on a plate for Mateta's opener.

Clyne also contributed five ball recoveries, two tackles and four clearances to the Palace cause on Thursday.

CRYSTAL PALACE VS. FULHAM MATCH STATS
Possession: Crystal Palace 40%-60% Fulham

Shots: Crystal Palace 11-17 Fulham

Shots on target: Crystal Palace 2-5 Fulham

Corners: Crystal Palace 6-3 Fulham

Fouls: Crystal Palace 7-10 Fulham



https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/liverpool/top-four-race/result/cairney-curler-rescues-point-late-on-for-fulham-against-palace-in-london-derby_588955.html

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Captain Cairney earns a point at Palace
Fulham extend unbeaten run with first league draw since August

Happy New Year! It's 2026, and Fulham extend their unbeaten run by ending their losing streak against Crystal Palace, in a competitive 1-1 draw at Selhurst Park. An unfortunate injury for Cuenca gave Palace the opportunity to capitalise on a temporary disadvantage in the first half, before Tom Cairney emerged from the bench in the second to equalise with a stunning finish. Both sides had a great array of chances, and Fulham could easily have pinched it at the end, but there's plenty to be pleased about with the draw, and it keeps us neatly tucked inside the top half of the table for the time being.

First Half
There are a few players missing from both these teams at the moment, and it had a dampening effect on the football initially, both teams trying to shake off their New Year's stupor. We've had our concerns with the injuries and AFCON absences over the season but it's worth remembering other teams face similar situations, and Glasner's side have absences in all departments. This contributed to the slightly stronger start we had, Smith Rowe and Lukic from deeper positions seizing the early initiative to dribble at the defence and work the team into threatening areas. Palace, as we discovered a few weeks ago, are a hard side to break, and Kevin and Raul found the crosses from these moves easily dealt with.

Whilst the 3-4-2-1 Palace played lacked some of the speed Munoz, Sarr and Nketiah lavish around their attack, utilising Pino and Devenny gave them passing options in tricky positions for our defence. Cuenca, previously a reliable figure in Bassey's absence, picked up an early booking for tripping Devenny - it unnerved him, in turn heightening the timidity in tighter moments around our final third. A long throw demonstrated these nerves - Lerma's ball in bobbled about before Wharton headed it forward in the box and Lacroix's cross had to be tipped over by Leno.

Fulham are a side that know how to work the ball, and our stronger moments in the half came during a decent spell in possession in the middle of the period. Wilson's dinked pass over an advanced Palace defence set Kevin through at goal - a tight offside spared his blushes following a tame effort. Smith Rowe, wriggling through the pitch, found the Brazilian next - on the left, Kevin ran past Lerma and a trailing Clyne to put his own ball into a troubling area. Sadly, our finishing let us down - Smith Rowe was ahead of the cross and couldn't stick his foot back to get it, Wilson's volley, whilst strong, travelled straight into Henderson's palms and Jimenez swiped at the rebound and put his effort wide. We looked alright using the left channel, Kevin and Robinson's pace combining to work us into the box. Again, Smith Rowe was very intelligent in his movement, keeping Hughes and Wharton occupied and pulling them away from his teammates. One such move produced chances for Lukic and Tete - but Guehi's block and Tete's volley flying narrowly over kept the scores level.

You can't waste chances against a side as physically gifted as Crystal Palace though; after riding the storm they put the game back in our half by moving their defenders into midfield. Guehi stepped forward to compound Palace's presence in our half - it produced a Mitchell cross that pinballed around between Devenny and Mateta before falling to Guehi, whose shot forcing a low save from Leno. A VAR reprieve for Lukic's trip on Hughes and Pino narrowly bending an effort outside the box wide seemed to mark the end of the danger... but never underestimate Fulham's ability to shoot themselves in the foot.

Cuenca had been pestered by the movement of Palace's frontline and a stray arm from Devenny caught him in the face, felling the Spaniard. Refereeing protocols mandate his temporary removal from play - in doing so, it withdrew a man from Fulham's backline, forcing us further back. And here, Palace struck their blow - Lerma, out of the backline and free to use the ball, found Clyne on the right. A clever touch bypassed our humbled left back and let him dribble toward the box, before lifting the ball into the path of Mateta, who jumped well away from Tete to guide a header downwards and under Leno for 1-0.

The goal certainly livened up the last few minutes of the half. For Palace, it sparked some attacking confidence - they hadn't been poor, but the sluggishness in some of their final moves seemed to clear for a moment or two as they sought to double their advantage. Mitchell was ferocious, wide on the left and drilling balls into the box, and Andersen was unfortunate not to have his poor touch punished by Pino. The Spaniard had another play fly perilously close through a cross that swung just off-target. Then, Fulham threw the play back to the other end - a Robinson long throw was narrowly cleared by Mateta, the ball fell to a well-placed Kevin on the edge of the box, his shot needed the lofted arms of Henderson to prevent a goal and Wilson's quick journey to the loose ball also required a sliding block from Lacroix to block the volley from close range. Incredibly, the action wasn't over - Henderson's goal kick took the ball back to Fulham's end, and through Hughes and Devenny Pino had yet another shot at goal - this time Andersen was focused and was well placed to stop the shot reaching Leno.

Second Half
Such a frenetic end to the half distracted from the fact that Fulham, not for the first time, trailed in a game through their own wayward game management. Whilst the promise was there, indecisiveness in defence had let Palace's attackers fox around in troubling positions, causing danger in seemingly sterile positions. It cost us Tete - Mateta haring down on the right-back let him steal the ball deep in our final third, and the physicality of the challenge forced Silva to swap him for Castagne (as well as a yellow card for Andersen's protestations). As always, there's no replacing the Dutchman in this squad - Palace's attackers were happy to drift to the left to exploit the Belgian's weaker stature at the back, combining with Mitchell to work the ball into danger. A clever cross from Mitchell saw a first-time strike from Devenny need blocking by Berge, and some diligent pressing from Palace forced a mistake from Castagne and almost produced a one-on-one against Leno.

It was frustrating viewing at times. Glasner's team work fluidly as a defensive unit, the wingbacks dropping back to make a line of five, Wharton and Hughes patrolling the space in front of them (with a centre-back making a well-timed intervention by stepping out of the backline from time to time), too many bodies stacked around the box to easily play the ball into a shooting position. We toiled for time in their final third, and it was not uncommon for Palace to watch a string of passes, pinch the ball off us and surge at our goal.

However, there was looming danger for the hosts. Hughes, versatile and rigorous in midfield, was withdrawn following a knock in the first half - whilst Canvot is a decent young player, and Lerma moving into midfield was hardly a poor option, it offset the ease at which Palace abated pressure. This was important - Palace are a side that have played a significant number of games this season, travelling around Europe in addition to a cup run and all with a depleted squad. Fatigue can prove the difference in the tighter moments - what had previously been territory locked-down opened up for Jimenez, ready in the box once Kevin and Robinson combined to let the American lift the ball into danger - his header bounced off the floor, over Henderson but off the post and wide.

Enter Tom Cairney, off for a mediocre Berge. We often wonder what our captain can bring to the Premier League, and watching him tonight demonstrated once again how delightful the man can be in a Fulham shirt. Operating deeper than the attacking players, a creator further back from Palace's impervious backline, he started pulling the strings and unravelling the structure of the defence before him. We'd seen promise from Kevin and good deliveries from Robinson on the left, but Cairney brought into play more of the team, giving more for Castagne and the uncharacteristically quiet Wilson to throw at Palace's left.

There were still scares for Fulham, of course. Wharton flexed his creative skills to pick Mitchell out with a long diagonal ball into our final third, forcing Castagne to knock it out for a corner. Pino's delivery was met by a mistimed header from Robinson, a desperate push off the line by Leno and Lacroix's header being blocked only by his teammate Guehi's unfortunate placing. Once again, defensive lapses threatened to wreck our chance of fighting back in the game.

It was a good fightback too. Smith Rowe continued to pop up in nifty areas. He fed the ball to Robinson, whose cross should have been met with a stronger header from Castagne - Henderson instead had a comfortable save. Jimenez, puffing through another game, received service from the American too - he couldn't beat the block though, and the chance fell away, as did Smith Rowe's own shot that cannoned into Lacroix. Would there be a winner?

Our captain made sure of it. Robinson, again brilliantly operating on the left, varied his approach by cutting inside and finding Lukic. The midfielder adjusted his angle and laid the ball off to Cairney on the edge of the box - with a touch to lift the ball into the air, he guided his volley to the left of the goal, away from Henderson's hopeful dive, to level the scores. It was a brilliant goal, one of many scored by the captain over the last decade with us, and was met with a spirited celebration to match.

Just like in the first half, the goal seemed to throw things into disarray. Palace, irked by losing their clean sheet, introduced Esse and Uche to throw some pace into the mix. Cuenca needed a well-timed intervention to stop Uche blasting into the box for a chance. But Silva had a plan. We withdrew widemen Wilson and Kevin for Reed and Traore, offering a bit of physical graft to try and absorb the added threat. It let us consolidate, keeping Fulham on the ball - thus starving Palace's speedy players from breaking into our half.

And with Fulham on the ball, the chances kept coming. We had two golden opportunities to win the game, created through our vision and patience on the ball. On the right, Reed placed a ball for Jimenez to collect, chesting it down and feeding Cairney. The captain couldn't quite thread it back to him but, via Lerma's deflection, the ball fell kindly for Castagne, unopposed in front of goal. He could have put his shot anywhere - his attempt was within Henderson's reach and the keeper whipped his hand up to save it. There wasn't time to rue it - Uche won another corner for Palace that needed dealing with. Yet unbelievably, it was Fulham's corner from the resulting counter-attack, led by Traore and won by Castagne, that produced the match-winning chance. After Mateta cleared the first one Cairney, Reed's second was knocked on by Jimenez, miscued by Canvot and fell directly to Andersen in the six-yard box... who lashed the ball into the skies for a goal kick, all but confirming the game would end a draw.

A Fightback from Fulham
There's plenty to be proud about from a Fulham perspective. From a frustrating setback, the team rallied, sharpened their focus, got themselves into goal-scoring positions and turned another Palace defeat into narrowly missing out on a fourth straight victory. I think Cairney deserves the plaudits - his left foot has a diamond-like quality that can lead us to great moments, and it proved the difference amongst a gallery of off-target efforts. He was the piece that pushed the other good components of the play into a goal-producing moment.

Kevin can be a hair-pulling watch but his chemistry with Robinson was a very important part of our play, and delivered several killer balls into the box - he just needs to break the duck, and his confidence in the final third will grow massively. Smith Rowe is getting used to his runs and trickery, because he was attuned to the work being done on the left throughout the game, and sculpted many fine moments on the ball in that department; more notably, he completed his first 90 minutes for Fulham tonight. Lukic had a decent game today too, and has an assist as reward for getting himself forward a little more. Wilson was quieter, probably feeling the burn of playing so many games in a row - for Jimenez, this is par for the course.

Perhaps defensively there needs to be a conversation about our RB cover - when Tete is absent, things fall apart for us there. Castagne is, at a push, a RWB - he can't be trusted in this system to maintain the flank like Tete can, and should we find ourselves relying on him to do so opponents perk their noses up to it. Cuenca demonstrated what the advantages of Bassey are - whilst he grew into the second half, Bassey is the player with the physical advantages to avoid being downed by a player like Devenny. Andersen's late miss puts a blot on an otherwise decent evening in defence - as a leader at the back, he's critical for our team. Robinson, meanwhile, needs to hone his defensive radar - the man is brilliant going forward, but if Clyne can take the American out of a game like he did for Mateta's goal, other players will feel they can manage similar.

Problems for Palace?
What of Palace, then? Glasner needs his team to dive into their energy reserves, because the fixtures won't be easing up any time soon and Palace's physical dominance is proving beatable over 90 minutes at the moment. You can compare the performance over the two fixtures we've just played against them - one, Palace fought hard and clawed a win out of a late corner, the other, Palace wilted in the second half and were only spared from defeat through Castagne and Andersen's wasted opportunities.

They need more pace in attack to get the best out of Mateta. Devenny and Pino did well with the game in the state it was, but neither managed to actually score a goal and their withdrawal probably needed to happen a lot earlier. Compare what Kevin and Robinson did on our left for what Mitchell had in Palace colours, and you feel there's a missed opportunity for Glasner's side to add to their attacks (not least against Castagne!) Defensively they're still very proficient, even when Munoz and Richards can't play, but without the fluidity and functionality going forward, they invite the pressure onto themselves in the latter stages of the game. You can't rely on physicality forever, even when Guehi and Lacroix and Wharton all wear your shirt, and it only takes a cool hand like Cairney to turn the screw and rupture the fort.

What a treat that he plays us for us then! Despite missing out on two points I am happy with a draw against this Palace team. Four games unbeaten is not to be sniffed at in the Premier League, especially when the run includes trips to decent teams like Glasner has built here. We're missing homegrown talents King and Sessegnon to injury, the Nigerian contingent are on another continent, Jimenez is still staggering through games as Muniz' deputy and now Tete is due a trip to the medic, but Fulham keep going, and we should be deeply proud of the work Silva has done with the team to turn around the sorrier times from earlier in the campaign. Not a bad start to the year!



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/p/captain-cairney-earns-a-point-at

[WhiteJC]

Fulham boss Silva annoyed by Palace goal
Marco Silva was left frustrated with the officials after Fulham conceded a goal against Crystal Palace with 10 men.

Tom Cairney's superb strike earned a point for the Whites, but boss Silva was still annoyed by the opening goal.

Jorge Cuenca won a free-kick for an elbow to his face, but the centre-back was up on his feet in seconds after the impact.

Cuenca was nevertheless made to stand on the touchline for 30 seconds – and in that time Jean-Phillipe Mateta scored for the hosts.

"Doesn't make any sense right now, because it happened twice with us in the first half," said Silva.

"If a player goes down, I think it's normal, if he feels the arm or the hand in his face I think he's a normal reaction, you go down. Cuenca was standing up so quick in that moment.

"It has happened too often, not just with us, I'm talking about the refs, they should be with the experience that they have to manage the game in a completely different way in that moment.

"Football matches are 11 versus 11  – not every time to put players out, without a reason. And this afternoon was completely without a reason for Cuenca to be out in that moment.

Kenny Tete had to be substituted during the second half because of injury, while Josh King was left out of the squad for the first time this season.

Silva said: "Josh, he felt something two days ago in his knee.

"He trained yesterday, he was in contention. But he was not feeling very confident and well in him, feeling a little bit of pain.

"Probably is going to be a big risk for him to be involved in the game. And let's see how he's going to react, if he's going to be ready for the next ones or not.

"Tete, he felt something in his hamstring. First, the reaction probably is not so serious, but we have to wait some hours, probably one or two days after a scan or exam to see what's going to happen."



https://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/fulham-boss-silva-annoyed-by-palace-goal

[WhiteJC]

Div 1 Champs 25 years on: January
To commemorate the 25 year anniversary of Fulham's 2000/01 title winning season, at the start of every month we will look back on how Jean Tigana's side fared this time quarter of a century ago.

January

The first month of 2001 was a dark one for Fulham Football Club. Not for the three defeats from six that we suffered across all competitions, but for a catastrophic injury suffered by Club Captain Chris Coleman.

Not much more than 24 hours after playing in our shock 2-0 defeat at Stockport County on New Year's Day, Cookie lost control of his car due to slippery conditions caused by heavy rain and snow in the area. He broke his leg in three places, though the severity of the accident meant that it could have been much worse for the popular Welshman.

While no timeframe was put on his return, it was confirmed that he would miss the remainder of the season. As it transpired, Coleman's injuries were too significant to come back from, and he didn't play another competitive game for the Club.

The first fixture following the news of Coleman's accident was a tantalising one, as Premiership champions Manchester United arrived at Craven Cottage for a Third Round FA Cup tie. United were 11 points clear at the top of their league, we had a seven point buffer with two games in hand – a fascinating contest was in store.

United took an early lead when David Beckham punished a rare Lee Clark mistake to set up Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, but it was all Fulham thereafter, and we got a deserved equaliser midway through the first half. Gary Neville had brought down Louis Saha some way from goal, but when Roy Keane prevented us taking it quickly, the referee moved the set-piece forwards 10 yards, which Fabrice Fernandes took full advantage of with an effort that Beckham would have been proud of.

Kit Symons – in for his good friend Coleman – then missed a gilt-edge chance from a corner as the Whites looked to turn the screw, momentum that we also took into the second half.

A replay at Old Trafford looked guaranteed, until Sir Alex Ferguson turned to top scorer Teddy Sheringham, who came off the bench to lash in a fine effort from the edge of the box, with just a minute left to play.

"It was a torrid game for us," Ferguson said afterwards. "I was never comfortable after the first 15 minutes. Every time they attacked towards the end I was uneasy and would have settled for the draw. That's the toughest time Gary Neville and Wes Brown have been given this season. Fulham's front two were fantastic for them and their team as a whole were never overawed."

Our first win of the year followed when goals in either half from Louis Saha and Luis Boa Morte saw off Norwich City at the Cottage, before an eventful game as Vicarage Road ended in a 3-1 win for the boys, our second victory over Watford in under a month.

The Sky cameras had to wait an hour for a goal, and then two came in quick succession, with Boa Morte twice rounding goalkeeper Alec Chamberlain to put his side in the ascendency.

Future Whites striker Heidar Helguson pulled one back for Watford in hilarious circumstances, making zero effort to hide the fact that he effectively punched the ball into the back of the net. But it might not have been quite so funny had Saha not restored our three-goal advantage at the other end moments later.

Fulham had been without Barry Hayles since the New Year's Day loss at Stockport, and our striking options then became further depleted by the absence of Boa Morte and Saha. Jean Tigana reacted by bringing in Danish international Peter Møller on loan, who led the line alongside Andrejs Stolcers in a 1-0 home defeat by Birmingham City.

Møller kept his place for our final game of the month, a short trip to Loftus Road, and he quickly endeared himself to the Fulham faithful when he handed us the lead on the stroke of half-time, with his driven effort having too much power for Ludek Miklosko.

Saha had returned to the team for the West London derby, but it was his replacement who made the points safe, Karl-Heinz Riedle coming off the bench to dispatch a thumping header to round off the month in style.



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2026/january/01/div-1-champs-25-years-on-january/