Crystal Palace do not give up.
At Fulham, a superb opening goal by Eddie Nketiah was cancelled out by Harry Wilson’s equally brilliant finish, but Marc Guehi was there late on to head home after evading his marker Josh King to secure a 2-1 win.
It might have been different if Emile Smith Rowe’s goal had been allowed and made it 2-1 to the home side but Samuel Chukwueze was marginally offside when crossing for Alex Iwobi to hit the bar before Smith Rowe followed it in.
Palace had been indebted to goalkeeper Dean Henderson for a brilliant save earlier from Smith Rowe after the No 10 burst into the box and shot high, only for Henderson to push it over the bar.
They move into fourth place in the Premier League despite the demands of a gruelling schedule and injuries.
Matt Woosnam discusses the talking points from Craven Cottage.
What was Wharton’s role in that team goal?
It was an outstanding move. Adam Wharton was integral with a superb pass with the outside of his boot, as he often tends to do, to find Tyrick Mitchell out wide on the left.
Mitchell then played it back to Marc Guehi, the Palace captain found Wharton who looked for Daichi Kamada, only for Eddie Nketiah to steal in with an intelligent run, turn and take a touch before firing beyond Bernd Leno into the bottom corner.
If there has been one thing needed more from Wharton it is to claim more goals and assists. He is so influential in the pre-assist phase, but tends to play in a role which makes it more difficult to get those final pieces himself. He was a huge part of the goal.
Nketiah’s sharp thinking and clinical finish were exactly what is required from him this season.
Did they miss Daniel Munoz?
Nathaniel Clyne, making his first Premier League start since April, was assured defensively. Palace might have feared the loss of Daniel Munoz with a minor knee injury would weigh heavily on them but although they missed his marauding runs and boundless energy, Clyne filled in capably.
Munoz might, though, have taken a chance his replacement missed when running onto a ball from Nketiah in the first half only to miss his kick and then see his follow up blocked.
“Man of the match was Nathaniel Clyne,” manager Oliver Glasner said. “He didn’t play for months, but every single training he is available and does his job. Not being in the rhythm, being 34 and playing how he did is incredible and it shows what a great player and character he is. It’s who we want to be and who we are, always being ready to support the team to get the win. Fourth place in the league is not important, this is important.”
Clyne stepped up for Palace and performed well with Munoz absent (HENRY NICHOLLS / AFP via Getty Images)
Palace focused their attacks more down the left through Mitchell who, along with being solid defensively, put two excellent, dangerous first time balls across the face of goal and was outstanding throughout. England manager Thomas Tuchel ought to be paying attention and Glasner tipped him to potentially make the World Cup squad next summer if he continues this form.
How do Palace continue to find a way?
Glasner has instilled a strong mentality within this squad. They believe they can win any game. This was not a classic performance, just as their ground-out victory over Burnley was a struggle at times. But they do not give up and that resilience that they have had to demonstrate was rewarded by Guehi’s late winner.
After successive defeats by Strasbourg in the UEFA Conference League and Manchester United in the Premier League after leading, Palace have steadied themselves and recovered well, albeit against weaker opposition.
Despite the draining schedule that has evidently tired them, their familiarity has instilled a real sense of belief which showed at Craven Cottage.
What did Glasner say?
“In the last games, it felt we were getting fatigued at the end of the game due to our schedule. Today I felt it was the opposite. All the players who came in brought great energy onto the pitch.
“We came home at 3am from Burnley and decided to give the players two days off. When we met yesterday, it felt like we had a very long holiday because we haven’t been together for two days. The players came in and were laughing and enjoying being together again.
“Sometimes you believe you are fatigued but I showed them their running numbers. At Burnley we were fourth in the Premier League in total distance. So its not true (they are fatigued). I didn’t feel we were more tired than Fulham at the end of the game.”
What next for Palace?
Thursday, December 11: Shelbourne (A), Conference League, 8pm UK, 3pm ET