Palace handed victory on a plate
CRYSTAL PALACE did not need Batman yesterday — Fulham masterminded their own demise at Selhurst Park.
Deadline-day signing Michy Batshuayi came on as a late substitute and Palace’s new star striker made an impact on his debut by playing a key role in Jeffrey Schlupp’s late second to settle Roy Hodgson’s nerves.
But in reality this game was decided inside the opening 25 minutes, Luka Milivojevic’s decisive penalty and Aleksandar Mitrovic’s unfathomable miss proving the crucial moments.
For Palace, any fears of being dragged into a relegation scrap appear to be fading, the win propelling Hodgson’s side into 14th place.
The picture is far bleaker for Fulham. Victory would have put Claudio Ranieri’s side within touching distance of safety.
Instead, a return to the Championship looks the harsh reality for Fulham. The manner of the defeat, perhaps more than anything, amplified why the west London side are staring relegation in the face.
Because, and not for the first time, the Cottagers shot themselves in the foot.
‘We missed that chance and gave away a stupid foul — that changed the match,’ said Ranieri.
‘But that’s football. We have to be positive. We have to fight. We lost the battle but not the war.’
The first of Fulham’s two match-defining misjudgments came in the 11th minute when Mitrovic, all alone and six yards out, missed the target. Somehow the Serbian planted his unmarked header from Joe Bryan’s cross wide.
The striker wanted the ground to swallow him up. Truth be told, a few of his team-mates may have been wishing the same.
Of course, Fulham would be cut adrift at the bottom of the league without their top scorer, Mitrovic having scored 10 of their 25 goals this season.
But vital points are won and loss on such moments.
And then, 14 minutes later, came Fulham’s second moment of absurdity. Just what was Cyrus Christie thinking?
As the Fulham defender went up with Christian Benteke to challenge for a header, his arm inexplicably went up with him.
With his left arm level with his head, referee Michael Oliver showed no hesitation in pointing to the spot after the ball struck Christie’s hand.
The Fulham defender’s protestations were half-baked; he knew exactly who was at fault — and it was not Oliver.
Milivojevic stepped up to put Palace ahead, though Fulham keeper Sergio Rico may feel disappointed he did not complete the job after a getting a firm hand to the Eagles captain’s effort.
Fulham had another mountain to climb and it was all of their own making. Palace were far from pretty. Without suspended dangerman Wilfried Zaha, the hosts were more workmanlike than wonderful.
But Hodgson’s side are fast proving they are capable of coping without their talismanic winger.
Had Benteke’s acrobatic scissor-kick from Andros Townsend’s cross not struck the top of the bar then Palace would have doubled their lead before the break in unforgettable fashion.
Fulham’s second-half showing was tame. No invention and
seemingly no fight. Rico denied Jordan Ayew and Schlupp, while James Tomkins and Mamadou Sako squandered excellent headed opportunities.
Finally, three minutes from time Schlupp eased late anxieties by finishing the rebound after Rico had parried Batshuayi’s fierce effort from inside the box.
‘It’s an incredible impact by Batshuayi, given I met him only 24 hours ago,’ said Hodgson.
‘We think we’ve signed a player who will be of enormous value to us staying in the division.’
A promising introduction for Batshuayi. It is anything but promising for Fulham.