Fulham 1-2 Crystal Palace: Adam Wharton's artistry shines through in big win - and why Cottagers could be in deep trouble after AFCON
Marc Guehi sank to his knees and offered a prayer as the final whistle pierced the sky above Craven Cottage and Crystal Palace clambered into the top four.
Before the game, England centre half Guehi had told Sky Sports that he trusts God has a plan for his future after his summer transfer to Liverpool fell through at the last minute and left him for a little longer in the Palace defence.
Perhaps, too, there is divinity guiding Oliver Glasner’s team because they were second best for long spells at Fulham. Often on the back foot, still learning to cope with fatigue from a congested schedule and a debut European campaign.
But they continue to collect points because when their talent is not enough, they can rely upon their brilliant organisation and fierce competitive courage.
Guehi and his defensive unit restricted their hosts to one goal with the help of tight VAR decision in their favour and the contest appeared to be drifting towards a draw when Palace dug into their reserves to summon one last flurry.
Marc Guehi scored the winner for Crystal Palace as they stole victory away at Fulham
Guehi had to work hard to keep Fulham to just the one goal and netted three minutes from time
Christantus Uche came on for the ineffective Jean-Phillipe Mateta and made life uncomfortable for the Fulham centre halves.
Inside three minutes of later pressure, Uche forced a save from Bernd Leno, then Yeremy Pino had a shot deflected wide and from the corner Guehi rose at the near post, ahead of Joachim Andersen and headed in the winning goal.
Three points lifted them above Chelsea and into fourth. Glasner played it down. 'Fourth in December is nice but not important,' he said.
Nevertheless, the Eagles are soaring like never before.
English connection at the Palace
The first Palace goal was a crisp and clinical finish by Eddie Nketiah, featuring the vision and sublime passing range of Adam Wharton, who thrives in this system, playing on the counter-attack because he sees the pass early.
Wharton launched the move by spraying a long ball with the outside of his left foot from the centre of the pitch to wing back Tyrick Mitchell on the left.
Mitchell waited and worked the ball inside to Guehi and he found Wharton, who drifted away from his marker and turned a first time pass forward into the feet of Nketiah. On the move, inside the penalty area, Nketiah took a touch before driving the ball in low for his third goal of the season, his first for more than two months.
Palace midfielder Adam Wharton showcased his sublime passing range at Craven Cottage
Four England internationals involved in the goal. Guehi and Wharton are already in Thomas Tuchel’s plans and Glasner thinks Mitchell should be, too.
'If he continues like this, I am sure will be in consideration for World Cup with England,' said Glasner but the Palace boss hailed Nathaniel Clyne, 34-year-old veteran called in for his first Premier League start since April when Daniel Munoz was forced out by a knee injury.
Glasner hopes to have Munoz back to face Manchester City on Sunday.
Another magical Wilson goal...
If Palace have Wharton with his wand of a left peg in central midfield, then Fulham have Harry Wilson casting his own spells from wide on the right. At Tottenham, eight days earlier, he had swept a sublime curling shot into an open goal from close to the touchline.
Here, he linked up with Raul Jimenez deftly with Raul Jimenez on the fringes of the penalty area. The pass came into his feet from Alex Iwobi and Wilson shaped it first time around his marker to Jimenez, and spun for the return.
Jimenez played the ball back into his path and again Wilson hit it with the outside of his left foot, this time with the power and shape to beat Dean Henderson’s dive. 'Everybody who loves football loved those first two goals,' said Glasner.
Fulham were level at 1-1, reward for a strong response to going behind. Silva’s team controlled long spells of possession. They were foiled in the first half when trailing 1-0 by Dean Henderson, who made a fabulous save from Emile Smith Rowe.
And again at 1-1 by a VAR intervention when Smith Rowe volleyed in the rebound after Alex Iwobi had headed a cross by Samuel Chukwueze against the bar. Chukwueze was ruled to have a toe offside in the build up.
'Probably the nail of Chukwueze is too big for the sport that we are playing,' said Marco Silva. 'A toenail is enough to disallow a goal. Now, it’s another decision from the VAR against ourselves.'
Harry Wilson netted yet another sensational strike to equalise for Fulham in the first half
Fulham hit by AFCON
Fulham were sunk by the late goal. Craven Cottage shuddered with injustice and the fear that despite a recent uptick in form and a decent display here, they are perilously close to the relegation mire and Silva will lose three of his most influential players to the Africa Cup of Nations.
Calvin Bassey, Iwobi and Chukwueze will all be in the Nigeria squad for the tournament in Morocco, which starts in the days before Christmas. 'Crucial players for us,' said Silva.
Chukwueze has sparkled since a cameo from the bench against Sunderland, centre half Bassey brings the pace and power to the defensive line and Iwobi has become as important as any other player in this Fulham team since converting to a role in central midfield.
Next up a trip to Burnley, where they will face former boss Scott Parker and the Nigerians will leave for international duty before the Carabao Cup quarter final at Newcastle.
