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Duncan Bech at Daily Mail |
Fulham (0) 2-2 (1) Crystal Palace
Felix Magath will look to youth to secure Fulham's return to the Premier League next season after he was shocked to see his team abandon the fight for survival.
'I saw Sunderland and Norwich playing at Craven Cottage,' said Magath. 'They had much more fight. I asked my team, "What's going on?'" and one player told me, "We cannot fight." We never fought as a team against relegation.'
Magath was buoyed to witness 21-year-old Chris David rescue a draw at Craven Cottage with a superb strike from distance.
It was Fulham's last touch of the game and brought the curtain down on a 13-year spell in the Premier League. But the German manager said it pointed the way towards their return.
'That is the future,' said Magath, 'We have a good youth academy, but the players have not played much in the last few years. I will change that. I will look to bring them into the main team.'
The Cottagers finished second from bottom with just nine wins.
In contrast, Tony Pulis summed up the incredible story of Crystal Palace's season. He took over when they were bottom in November after a 4-1 home defeat by Fulham signalled the end of Ian Holloway's reign.
'If you'd said to me when I came in that we'd play at Fulham and that would be the game that decided whether you stayed up or not, I'd have chomped your hand off.'
In the event, Palace finish 12 points clear of the drop, having moved nine places up the table. 'The players have had a right go, they didn't put their sandals on,' said Pulis.
Dwight Gayle, who was playing in the sixth tier of English football two years ago, opened the scoring on 28 minutes, getting the tip of his boot on a Joel Ward cross to redirect past keeper David Stockdale from close range.
Mile Jedinak, who has been key to Palace's success, limped off after 59 minutes and missed his first bit of Premier League football for Palace this season.
Less than two minutes after the Australian left the pitch, Fulham equalised when Cauley Woodrow coolly turned inside the box to fire home with his left foot.
Gayle scored his fourth goal in a week on 83 minutes after his double in Monday's 3-3 draw with Liverpool.
The 23-year-old was released by Arsenal aged 12 for being too small but must have felt 20 feet tall as he curled a free kick round the wall rendering Stockdale hopeless.
However, David rescued a point and some semblance of respectability for Fulham.
Fulham (4-4-2): Stockdale 7, Heitinga 6, Hangeland 6, Zverotic 6 (Dejagah 50' 5.5), Amorebieta 5.5, Sidwell 6, Kacaniklic 6 (David 23' 8), Richardson 6 (Tunnicliffe 79'), Parker 5.5, Rodallega 5.5, Woodrow 7.
Subs not used: Joronen, Kasami, Williams, Mitroglou.
Goals: Woodrow 61, David 90
Booked: Amorebieta, Parker, David.
Crystal Palace (4-4-1-1): Hennessey 7, Ward 6.5, Mariappa 6, Dann 6, Delaney 6, Bolasie 6.5, Ince 6.5 (Puncheon 74'), Jedinak 6.5 (Dikgacoi 59'), Ledley 6, Chamakh 6 (Murray 72'), Gayle 8.
Subs not used: Speroni, O'Keefe, Gabbidon, Jerome.
Goals: Gayle 28, Gayle 83
Booked: Chamakh, Gayle.
Referee: Kevin Friend
Attendance: 24,447
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