Match Preview
Crystal Palace vrs Fulham
Premier League Match Day 06 23/24 at Selhurst Park
Saturday 26th August 2023 KO: 15:00
Referee:
Paul Tierney (Lancashire)
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Fulham visit Crystal Palace in an intriguing Premier League London derby on Saturday afternoon.
The Cottagers edged past basement side Luton Town 1-0 for a much-needed thtree points while the Eagles were bested 3-1 by Aston Villa in their most recent battle.
The international break could arguably not have come at a more opportune time for Fulham boss Marco Silva, who witnessed his side torn to shreds by Manchester City on September 2 before enjoying a two-week period to dissect that gruelling Etihad encounter.
Sparks did not fly upon the Cottagers' return to the Premier League, as newly-promoted Luton gave a good account of themselves at Craven Cottage last weekend, but a second-half strike from Carlos Vinicius got the capital club over the line.
The Brazilian's 65th-minute effort propelled Fulham to their first Premier League win since also overcoming Everton 1-0 on the opening weekend, in a game where they rode their luck on more than one occasion, but their somewhat indifferent start still sees them sitting level on points with Palace, albeit one place lower in 10th due to their inferior goal difference.
Inconsistency has also bedevilled Silva's charges on the road for some time too, as Fulham have just three wins under their belt from their last 10 Premier League away matches, although they have found the back of the net in each of their last four top-flight games on enemy territory.
The Cottagers also spoiled Palace's Christmas party with a 3-0 win at Selhurst Park on Boxing Day last year, but that triumph represents their only win from their last six games against the Eagles, who came away from Craven Cottage with a point from a 2-2 draw back in May.
Owing to a health scare, veteran Palace boss Roy Hodgson was not barking orders from the touchline when the Eagles travelled to take on Aston Villa last week, allowing Paddy McCarthy to oversee operations once again following his brief dugout stint last season.
The Eagles were agonisingly close to giving their manager the best get-well gift they could, as Jean-Philippe Mateta and Odsonne Edouard combined for the latter to fire home the opener, but a late Lions onslaught saw Jhon Duran's rocket, Douglas Luiz's penalty and Leon Bailey's finish turn the tide in Villa's favour.
Such a beating marked the end of a brief three-game unbeaten run for Palace, who have at least been boosted by the return of Hodgson to the practice pitches this week, as the Eagles boss seeks to address defensive shortcomings that have seen his side ship seven goals in their last three games in all tournaments.
Still, a ninth-placed ranking in the table is respectable for a side with top-half ambitions, and defeat to Villa was just their fourth loss from their last 15 Premier League matches, three of which have come on the road.
Since the turn of the year, only Manchester City, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur have come away from Selhurst Park with all three points to their name, and after failing to win any of their first six homes games in 2023, Palace have now triumphed in four of their last seven.
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This is the 50th clash between Crystal Palace and Fulham in all competitions. Fulham lead by 18 wins to 14, with 17 draws.
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Fulham's solitary victory in the past seven top-flight meetings was by 3-0 in last season's corresponding fixture, when Palace had Tyrick Mitchell and James Tomkins sent off.
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After a run of three straight Premier League victories over Fulham between 2018 and 2020, Crystal Palace are now winless in their past three against the Cottagers (D2 L1).
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In Fulham’s last game, a 1-0 win over Luton Town, the Cottagers had their most successful passes (733) and highest average possession total (77.6%) in any of their 537 Premier League games Opta has on record since 2003-04.
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Fulham have only won one of their past 20 away Premier League London derbies (D5 L14), but that was a 3-0 victory at Crystal Palace last season. The Cottagers have just a 9% win ratio in those derbies in their Premier League history (P76 W7 D24 L45).
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Fulham can reach double figures in points after six matches of a Premier League season for only the third time, and first in 20 years.
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They have conceded three penalties in the Premier League this season, more than any other team. All three have been scored.
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Carlos Vinicius has scored four goals in his past six Premier League appearances, including the winner in last week's 1-0 victory against Luton.
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Raul Jimenez has gone 28 league games without a goal and has never scored against Crystal Palace in seven appearances.
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The Eagles have earned 14 points from seven home league fixtures since Roy Hodgson returned as manager in April (W4, D2, L1).
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A win on Saturday would ensure Palace equal their highest points tally after six matches of a Premier League season: 10 in 2016-17 under Alan Pardew and 2020-21 under Hodgson.
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However, they have won only four of their past 32 Premier League London derbies (D12, L16).
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Crystal Palace's last 12 league and cup goals were scored in the second half, including all 10 this season.
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Odsonne Edouard has scored four of Palace's six league goals this season. The Frenchman scored five goals in 35 top-flight appearances in 2022-23.
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In his two and a half years as Fulham manager, Hodgson guided the club to their highest top-flight finish of seventh in 2008-09 and the 2010 Europa League final.
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Palace’s Eberechi Eze has completed more dribbles than any other player in the Premier League so far this season (20). Eze has also had 23 attempts at goal, second only to Manchester City striker Erling Haaland (29) across the division.
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Source Ben Knapton at SportsMole