Crystal Palace climbed to fourth in the Premier League after captain Marc Guehi’s towering 87th-minute header sealed a tense 2–1 away victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage. In a fiercely contested London derby defined by momentum swings, VAR drama and tactical adjustments, Oliver Glasner’s side found the decisive moment when it mattered most.
Eddie Nketiah opened the scoring on his first league start of the season before Fulham equalised through a sublime Harry Wilson strike. The hosts then thought they had completed the turnaround early in the second half when Emile Smith Rowe found the net, only for VAR to intervene for a marginal offside. Palace, who had been under pressure for long stretches, grew stronger after Glasner’s tactical tweaks and punished Fulham’s fatigue late on.
The win represents a significant psychological milestone for a Palace side increasingly comfortable adopting multiple shapes within games. For Fulham, however, the afternoon was another reminder of their inconsistency: bright spells, creative flair, but once again undone by fine margins.
Harry Wilson’s reaction: “If you can’t win, don’t lose”
“We managed to get the goal and I felt like it was there for us to win it. When that gets disallowed we didn’t quite recover. If you can’t win, then don’t lose. We’re disappointed to concede from a set play.” — Harry Wilson, speaking to Sky Sports
“We’re down. No player likes to lose. If you can’t win then you can’t lose, that’s what hurts us.”
On his goal: “It would have meant a lot more if we got the three points but it was still personally a nice goal. It’s hard to play against a team like Palace. I was able to use the outside of my foot and find the far corner. It felt really nice to score but I am just disappointed it didn’t lead to anything.
“To score four against City, we have to take positives from that. We’ve got a tough game away at Burnley next week and then the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup. The games are coming.”
Wilson admitted his spectacular equaliser meant little without points. He praised Palace’s defensive resilience but lamented Fulham’s inability to manage the game after the VAR setback.
VAR rules out Smith Rowe’s goal for marginal offside
Fulham believed they had turned the game on its head when Smith Rowe slotted home after Iwobi’s header hit the post. But VAR checked the buildup and determined that Chukwueze — whose cross had sparked the chaos in the box — was just offside.
The hosts never fully recovered from the reversal, and Palace gradually began controlling territory despite earlier pressure.
Harry Wilson — Player Stats vs Crystal Palace
| Stat (vs Crystal Palace) | Harry Wilson |
|---|---|
| Goals | 1 |
| xG | 0.14 |
| xA | 0.15 |
| Key Passes | 1 |
| Crosses (Accurate) | 4 (1) |
| Accurate Passes | 24/28 (86%) |
| Total Shots | 2 |
| Recoveries | 2 |
| Ground Duels (Won) | 5 (3) |
Wilson’s numbers show a player who influenced Fulham’s input phases aggressively but was isolated after the VAR setback. His creative metrics (xA, key passes, crossing accuracy) reinforce how central he remains to Silva’s attacking design.
Why Palace keep finding late goals
In our view Palace’s late winner is no coincidence. The Austrian’s structure thrives on controlling “moments within moments” — slowing games when necessary, then accelerating into transitional surges. Palace frequently appear comfortable without the ball, but they conserve energy for decisive phases.
This match followed that pattern. Fulham pushed harder early, but their intensity dropped after the VAR incident. Palace, by contrast, grew physically and mentally, sensing space around Fulham’s tired full-backs. The introduction of a more compact midfield gave Wharton and Pino greater freedom to influence transitions.
It’s worth noting that Palace’s set-piece effectiveness has improved dramatically this season. The winning corner was not improvisation — it was a rehearsed routine aimed at isolating Guehi against smaller defenders. That organisational detail is a hallmark of Glasner’s approach.
Key Insights
- Marc Guehi’s 87th-minute header lifted Palace into fourth place.
- Eddie Nketiah scored on his first league start before Harry Wilson equalised.
- Fulham had a goal by Smith Rowe ruled out by VAR for a marginal offside.
- Palace grew stronger after Glasner reshaped the midfield.
- Harry Wilson admitted Fulham “didn’t recover” from the disallowed goal.
- Wilson delivered a standout performance despite the defeat.
What’s Next?
Crystal Palace face a huge test in their next Premier League outing as they aim to solidify their spot in the top four. Fulham travel to Burnley next week before turning attention to a Carabao Cup quarter-final — a competition that may offer their best route to silverware this season.
👉 Did VAR get the Smith Rowe offside call right — or were Fulham unlucky?
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