Glasner unfazed by Eagles' rise to top four after Guehi grabs London derby triumph at Fulham

Cottagers v Eagles programme by @JTaylorSport

Fulham 1 Crystal Palace 2

“We are watching the best manager and the best team in Crystal Palace's history”.

An eye-catching quote from Jamie Carragher on the rise of the south London club under Oliver Glasner. And this was prior to three points conjured up in disciplined, industrious fashion at Craven Cottage against luckless Fulham.

It was a London derby with quality goals, firstly from Eddie Nketiah who fired Palace into a 20^th minute lead from a fine, sweeping team move, before a sublime finish from Harry Wilson levelled for the Cottagers. In the context of defeat, though, the Welshman’s piece of wizardry may well be overlooked.

The Eagles finished the stronger side amid blustery conditions on the banks of the Thames – but as they asserted themselves with a late, powerfully headed winner from Marc Guehi, they assume a rarefied position.

Thanks to the work from manager Glasner, a fresh, top four place in the Premier League seals a superb calendar year for all at Selhurst Park. FA Cup winning glory, trading blows with the elite and more European action to come. Crystal Palace continue their Conference League experience with a tie against Shelbourne in Dublin on Thursday. Perhaps Carragher has a point about the Eagles – and is the best yet to come?

Fulham, meanwhile, sit fifteenth, with nothing but regret on a pre-festive, missed opportunity. And the Cottagers, incidentally, must be sick of the prospect of Palace visiting SW6. They have not beaten their London rivals here since – incredibly – 2005.

Undone

Following an almost miraculous comeback in midweek against Manchester City, Marco Silva’s men coming up short in a thrilling 5-4 defeat, they were undone again.

“It was different type of game, against Palace compared to City”, admitted Fulham boss Silva. “Sometimes the possession at the back was slow. We started well and made chances. They (Palace) had not done much until they scored (the first goal). We tried to create against a team which is very compact and organised. We kept trying to win the game”.

That the Eagles eventually prevailed was in spite of a comparatively quiet showing from Jean-Philippe Mateta. The bustling talisman had been well-policed all afternoon, at the point where you assumed a share of the spoils. The all round energies of both teams in the first half dipped late on, but Fulham were vulnerable to counter attacks and set pieces. Guehi took advantage via the latter method with four minutes remaining.

While Glasner works the oracle at Selhurst Park and the trip to Ireland an attractive diversion from League demands, Fulham were bereft at the end.

Emile Smith-Rowe was excellent early on, at the heart of most Cottager operations. Wilson, too. On another day Fulham would have claimed at least a point.

“Fulham were in very good form and in good shape, they were close to a point against City”, said Glasner afterwards.

“Everybody who loves football loves the first two goals. I felt that the longer the game went on the better our chances. We defended well, stayed to our plan and then Marc’s goal at the end I really liked. We didn’t play for a draw and I think we deserved to win this game.”

Elevation

What of that elevation to the top four, as early as December? Only supreme Palace purists might have anticipated such stellar progress.

“We are fourth in December so it is nice”, added former Eintracht Frankfurt chief Glasner. “All the players had great energy. This is important, not the fourth place at this moment. My team is of most importance”.

These may be great times for the Eagles, but Glasner noted that there is no real time to work on tactical thoughts within a hectic schedule. “For the success of Crystal Palace I feel 100 per cent backed”, said the Austrian. “I am only thinking about Shelbourne, City, Arsenal and Tottenham. This will be the next weeks. It is great how the players perform and they will prepare well in Wednesday before Shelbourne”.

Fulham will rue a VAR decision, when, in 54^th minutes they were denied by the system. Smith-Rowe pounced, although VAR declared supplier Samuel Chukwueze offside. Silva, for once, brushed such an event aside. “It is not the time for excuses, but of course we are disappointed”, he said. “We need to be resilient in the right moments to get results”.

Silva will have to do without the services of key men Alex Iwobi, who was excellent, and Calvin Bassey, as both embark to the African Cup of Nations. Fulham visit Burnley next Saturday – a game where they have to be confident of winning.

However, it was Palace’s day. Busy schedule or not, the Eagles continue to rise.