Fulham captain Tom Cairney came off the bench to score a crucial late equaliser, snatching a 1-1 draw for his side against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. The result extends a peculiar Premier League streak to ten matches where the away team has avoided defeat in this fixture.
Palace Lead Slips as Fulham Fight Back
The home side took the lead in the first half through striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, who scored his first goal from open play since 1 November. The French forward finished expertly at the far post after a cross from Nathaniel Clyne, capitalising on a moment of disruption as Fulham defender Jorge Cuenca received treatment for a head injury.
Crystal Palace had chances to double their advantage before the break, but both Clyne and Will Hughes fired wide. Fulham, who had shown threat through Harry Wilson forcing an early save from Dean Henderson, grew into the game after falling behind.
Cairney's Crucial Intervention
The second half saw both sides suffer injury setbacks, with Fulham's Kenny Tete and Palace's Will Hughes forced off. The home side missed a golden opportunity to seal the points when Mateta failed to connect with a clever pass from Yeremy Pino.
Fulham's pressure finally told in the latter stages. After Raúl Jiménez saw a header strike the post, the Cottagers found their breakthrough. A flowing move involving Antonee Robinson and Harry Wilson set up substitute Tom Cairney, who produced a brilliant finish to level the scores.
Fulham could even have won it in a dramatic finale. First, Timothy Castagne missed a good chance, and then, with virtually the last kick of the match, former Palace defender Joachim Andersen blazed a shot over the bar from close range, leaving the spoils shared.
Context and Consequences
The draw means Oliver Glasner's Crystal Palace have now gone six matches without a win in all competitions. For Marco Silva's Fulham, the point continues their improved form, having recorded three consecutive Premier League victories prior to this London derby.
Remarkably, the result leaves the two sides level on points in the table, separated only by goal difference. This marks a significant shift from early December, when Fulham were nine points behind their rivals after a defeat at Craven Cottage.
Off the pitch, Palace fans received news of a major impending signing, with Brennan Johnson undergoing a medical ahead of a club-record £35m move from Tottenham Hotspur. The Wales forward is expected to add vital firepower to Palace's attack for the remainder of the season.
