Crystal Palace 0-2 Fulham
Back in 2020-21 (that awful Covid season) there were six London clubs in the Premier League. That gave newly promoted Fulham ten local derbies and I am afraid that they fared poorly, amassing just four points and three goals.
True, two of the points and two of the goals came from honourable draws at Arsenal (the Gunners squad included current Fulham players Emile Smith Rowe and Bernd Leno); and at Tottenham where Scott Parker's team generally looked out of its depth. Compare that with last week. Two games against London sides produced six points and five goals.
Some wiseacres insist that local derbies, especially in the capital, have no significance in the 21st century. The joy and the pain of the recent Fulham-Brentford encounter indicate otherwise. Saturday's victory at Crystal Palace may have been easier on the nerves but was still immensely satisfying.
Marco Silva did not promote Monday evening's two goal hero Harry Wilson to the starting line-up; the head coach is not one to alter a successful strategy. Once again the Whites attacked from the start with Alex Iwobi making opportunities for Raul Jimenez and Reiss Nelson. The Palace keeper Dean Henderson and his defenders found themselves under constant pressure. Smith Rowe worked himself into a scoring position only to be robbed by a fearsome but seemingly legitimate tackle from Maxence Lacroix.
A match can turn so easily. Jean-Philippe Mateta looked certain to score after beating Leno to the ball but Joachim Andersen dismayed his former admirers by scooping off the line. This narrow escape jolted Fulham into renewed action and just before the interval an error by Lacroix allowed Jimenez to free Emile Smith Rowe, whose left-footed drive sent the ball beyond Henderson's reach.
Palace, a club going through a bad patch, did rally after the interval but nearly conceded a second goal. Leno initiated a superb movement involving Jimenez, Nelson and Iwobi and rounded off by Smith Rowe. An absurdly prolonged examination by VAR went against Fulham, Emile's toecap being judged offside. It would otherwise have been a contender for Goal of the Month.
Dean Henderson kept out two fierce efforts from Andreas Pereira but the home side's good fortune evaporated with Daichi Kamada's wild and uncontrolled tackle on Kenny Tete. A red card ensued, ending any possibility of a comeback.
Cometh the 82nd minute, cometh the Welshman and 66 seconds after joining the fray Harry Wilson had the ball in the net. He shared the glory with Alex Iwobi, who provided what the Daily Mail termed 'a pass no-one else in south London would have seen, let alone attempted'. The Mail also plugged the Nigerian's new single 'What's Luv?' Surely you must have felt the vibes from the supporters, Alex.
Harry would probably have created a different sort of record if he had notched another goal but his second was invalidated for handball. We will settle for 2-0.
As the Premier League programme pauses for another international Fulham sit comfortably in seventh place just a point behind the Arsenal and Chelsea and looking down on the other London teams. Local derbies? No problems.
The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and unless specifically stated are not necessarily those of Hammersmith & Fulham Council.
