Glasner admits 'aggressive' Cottagers too strong for struggling Palace as Silva hails a fine week for Fulham

Crystal Palace 0 Fulham 2

Amid a fresh winter chill in the capital, Crystal Palace are unquestionably feeling the pinch.

"Too slow" and "many mistakes", according to Eagles' boss Oliver Glasner following the London derby loss to Fulham, a side so full of enterprise.

Hints of a mini revival to steer themselves away from the Premier League danger zone were extinguished at Selhurst Park by the Cottagers, who, in complete contrast, are in the ascendancy.

Goals by Emile Smith-Rowe and substitute Harry Wilson were more than sufficient for the Marco Silva's side, now seventh in the table, just one point off the Champions League places.

Indeed were it not for a string of fine saves by Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson, then the margin of defeat would have been higher for the hosts, who are noticeably struggling with key absentees.

Glasner's options are currently limited as a result of a spate of injuries to Eberechi Eze, Jefferson Lerma, Adam Wharton and Chadi Riad, while striker Eddie Nketiah joined them on the side lines this week with a hamstring issue.

Palace's problems piled up as the contest wore on, with Fulham taking command of the second half. Wilson, on for a mere 39 seconds from the bench late on, delivered the killer blow, as he did with two stunning injury time strikes to defeat west London rivals Brentford last Monday.

Meanwhile, a red card for Daichi Kamada in the 76th minute for a poor challenge summed up the day for Glasner and the south Londoners. It was something out of character for the midfielder; a moment which encapsulated the frost and frustration enveloping Palace right now.

It was also a winning return to his former club for defender Joachim Andersen, who kept Jean Philippe Mateta quiet for the most part, with the Eagles threatening only sporadically.

Triumph

From Fulham's perspective, this was a merited triumph. Alex Iwobi was central to all their good ingredients: movement, control, ease of touch, passing. All the hallmarks of a player and team in confident mood. "Dominant from the first minute", the emphatic post-match view by Cottagers' chief Silva.

Privately, Glasner will be thankful to Henderson, who denied Iwobi, Andreas Pereira and Reiss Nelson, thus avoiding a scathing outcome. Fulham also had a couple of goals, by Smith-Rowe and Wilson, chalked off by VAR.

With just one win in 11 league games this season, Palace - as a measure of their current ill-fortune - conceded the first goal on the stroke of half time. Smith-Rowe found the corner of the net from around twelve yards out after Raul Jimenez split the home defence. Henderson could only get a hand to the ball on its way in.

With Palace enforcer Will Hughes serving a one-game suspension after picking up five yellow cards, Glasner handed Northern Ireland Under-21 midfielder Justin Devenny his debut and first Premier League start. The young Eagles' prodigy scurried around and worked hard, and will surely have better days than this.

"Fulham were the better team", admitted Glasner afterwards. "They were very aggressive, played very direct with a lot of pace in their attacking.

"Then we made too many mistakes. When we had situations maybe to come back into the game, we didn't take them. Then, the red card: again, a mistake we made… inaccurate passing, a tackle in their half, and then a red card."

Palace have had their moments this season, such as being denied a victory late on in their previous game at Wolves, where they had to accept a 2-2 draw.

Today, though, Glasner gave an honest appraisal.

“I think it's the first game this season, maybe, where we deserved to lose the game", the Austrian added.

"We have to accept it, and I don't look for an excuse that we missed some players. I think the team that played today could have done better in many situations.

"I think we didn't have this determination in possession. We played too slow, we were always looking, and looking, and looking. Overall, if you make so many mistakes, this means you lose more and more your confidence."

In contrast, understandably, Silva can reflect upon an excellent week for Fulham. If late drama ensued in order to overcome Brentford, courtesy of Wilson, this was altogether more straightforward, with the three points whisked back across to west London.

Control

"I think we did control well most of the game", said Silva. "The thing that pleases me more, really, is the way we move the ball again, the way circulate the ball.

“Two goals, plus two goals disallowed. Of course, we are pleased. We have to be proud of the way we played again.

Following the heroics against the Bees, Wilson was again the toast of the travelling supporters, almost disbelieving at the manager's timely substitution - the winger replaced Nelson with eight minutes remaining - for the second game in a row.

And Silva added: “He (Wilson) is doing the right things. He's not doing anything wrong to not start. He's competing against very good players, too. Alex (Iwobi), for example, is being one of the best players so far this season, if not the best. From the first day of the pre-season, he’s been so, so brilliant.

“Great competition between them – it’s great for me. Good headache, but great for me and for the team as well.

“I know that Harry, like all the others, his desire is to play from the start. I know him very well."