Patrick Vieira should be questioning how he were given this so fallacious. Crystal Palace’s hopes of recording a fourth successive house victory within the Premier League for the primary time of their historical past have been destroyed inside of 3 mins on the finish of the primary 1/2 via a scientific Fulham staff led via the bright Aleksandar Mitrovic.
Disastrous protecting which allowed Bobby De Cordova-Reid to open the scoring was once compounded via Tyrick Mitchell’s rush of blood that earned him a directly crimson card and left Vieira’s aspect with a mountain to climb. Another crimson card for James Tomkins – making his first Premier League get started since Boxing Day closing yr within the absence of the suspended Marc Guéhi – plus targets from Tim Ream – the captain’s first within the Premier League – and Mitrovic’s tenth of the marketing campaign, earned a deserved victory for Marco Silva’s aspect. That way they already want simplest two extra wins to compare their issues tally from two seasons in the past.
“We had a plan and the players stuck to the plan,” stated Silva. “Their home record is very strong but we were the best team on the pitch and showed the maturity we needed.”
Both groups went into the World Cup smash having to stew on disappointing defeats, with Palace beginning the day at the back of their guests simplest on purpose distinction having performed a sport fewer. With the house make stronger starved of aggressive motion since a win over Southampton right here just about two months in the past, Palace got a hearty welcome as they emerged to Insomnia, via Faithless, in a tribute to Palace’s former affiliate director Maxi Jazz, who died on Saturday.
Silva admitted previously that Mitrovic had nonetheless now not totally recovered from the foot harm that led to him to leave out Fulham’s closing two suits sooner than the World Cup in spite of then happening to play all 3 of Serbia’s video games in Qatar. Yet such is his significance to this aspect that it was once no wonder to peer him enjoying a starring function as they recorded a primary win since profitable at Leeds in October.
Almost up to Mitrovic, Andreas Pereira was once the motive force at the back of Fulham’s very good begin to the season and his dipping free-kick from lengthy vary pressured Vicente Guaita into early motion. With Eberechi Eze caught out in an unfamiliar place at the left flank, Harrison Reed and the exceptional João Palhinha have been in a position to dominate the early midfield exchanges. Meanwhile, an remoted Wilfried Zaha was once left to feed off the few scraps that got here his manner up entrance.
A mazy dribble from the elusive Michael Olise halfway throughout the 1/2 in spite of everything injected some urgency into the house aspect however Jordan Ayew noticed his shot strike the bar. Mitrovic seemed aghast when the referee, Andy Madley, dominated in opposition to him after a tussle with Nathaniel Clyne however lower than a minute later it was once his inviting pinpoint go that allowed De Cordova-Reid to provide Fulham the lead with a glancing header.
The Palace supporters slightly had time to digest that dangerous information when extra arrived within the type of Mitchell’s dismissal. Having miscontrolled the ball along with his chest, the England defender stuck Kenny Tete top up on a shin and left Madley and not using a different choice. Mitchell headed down the tunnel along with his blouse over his head.
Vieira seemed lower than inspired as Palace left the pitch at half-time and so they emerged for the second one 1/2 certainly with their supervisor’s phrases nonetheless ringing of their ears. But any hopes of a comeback gave the look to be over when Tomkins was once despatched off after being proven a 2nd yellow card for blocking off a Mitrovic run along with his shoulder. It was once a choice that incensed Vieira and the house supporters, who should have sensed this was once now not going to be their day. “From the first minute Fulham were the better team. In the end we got what we deserved,” admitted a despondent Vieira.
Palace’s destiny was once sealed when Ream lashed house from shut vary after Mitrovic was once first to any other nook. Replays confirmed the Serb was once pulling Joel Ward’s blouse within the field and the ball struck his hand however Madley dominated that it was once nonetheless a purpose after being despatched to study the incident via VAR.
Having already hit a put up, Pereira will have made it an much more forgettable instance for Palace had Guaita now not come to the rescue. But it was once Mitrovic who was once to have the overall say as he glanced house Willian’s go to spherical off the easiest afternoon for Fulham.