Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner expressed his delight at seeing striker Jean-Philippe Mateta break a barren run in front of goal, as the Eagles halted a losing streak with a hard-fought draw against Fulham.
Mateta's Vital Header Halts Palace Slide
The New Year's Day clash at Selhurst Park saw Jean-Philippe Mateta open the scoring with a first-half header, his first Premier League goal since November. The French forward's effort was cancelled out late on by Fulham's Tom Cairney, with Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson forced into a crucial late save to secure a point. The result ended a run of consecutive defeats for Glasner's side, though it extends their winless run to six matches across all competitions.
Glasner was quick to highlight the importance of Mateta's contribution, especially given the team's lengthy injury list. "I'm pleased for him and also for JP, of course," the Austrian told Palace TV. "He didn't score for a couple of games and now it was a great header, being there where the No. 9 has to be. Scoring the goal will help him and this will help us. We know that we need JP's goals."
Glasner's Assessment of a 'Challenging' Season
Reflecting on the broader picture at the season's halfway point, Glasner described the campaign as "challenging." Palace had stormed into the top six with an excellent start but have since slipped to 10th place, albeit just three points off the European spots.
"We have 27 points, so [we average] 0.5 points better than last year," Glasner analysed. "If we do the same we have a new club points record. With all the circumstances that have happened, with the amount of games we played, our first European experience and the injury situation, I think it was a great first half of the season."
He acknowledged a dip in form, attributing it to the demanding schedule. "The first part was excellent. The second part we had to pay the bill for all the games. We were not that fresh, and in the Premier League the teams are so good. But overall, the development and the progress of the squad is absolutely on track."
Looking Ahead to a Tough Fixture List
The point against Fulham provides a platform as Palace now face a stern sequence of fixtures. Their immediate focus turns to an FA Cup third-round tie against Macclesfield Town, before a return to league action sees them host Newcastle United and Aston Villa, followed by a trip to face Sunderland.
Glasner will be hoping the return to scoring form of his key striker, coupled with a more resilient defensive display, can provide the foundation for a positive start to 2026 after a difficult December.
