Player ratings from Craven Cottage as Eagles get their act together to win at Fulham once more
Crystal Palace booked their place in the last eight of the Carabao Cup with a 1-0 victory at Fulham on Wednesday night. Eddie Nketiah’s first-half goal was enough to settle the contest and ease at least some of the pressure on Eagles boss Pierre Sage.
It is the first time that Fulham, who came into the derby off the back of successive Premier League wins, had failed to score at Craven Cottage this season. Here are the ratings for both teams.
Fulham (4-2-3-1)
Benjamin Lecomte - 6
The Frenchman is set to be back to collecting splinters on the Fulham bench until the FA Cup comes around. Had little chance with the goal and came out quickly to save at the feet of Dwight McNeil in the 78th minute.
Kenny Tete - 6
Had one of Fulham’s most clear cut chances of the tie in the first half. The right-back was unmarked when he met a deep Alex Iwobi corner but could only send it into the side-netting. Made way as part of a triple change by head coach Alvaro Arbeloa just before the hour mark.
Calvin Bassey - 6
You have got to love the enthusiasm and he has the physical attributes to recover from mistakes, typified by the way he got back to dispossess Dario Osorio after an initial mistake.
Joachim Andersen - 5
The Dane has been displaced in Arbeloa’s Premier League selections by summer signing David Affengruber and he looked partly at fault for the Palace goal as Nketiah beat him to the crucial first contact. Had the most touches (179) and accurate passes (163) of any player on the pitch. Did make a good defensive action to snuff out a chance for Evann Guessand in the second half. Headed over in the 21st minute from an Oscar Bobb corner.
Antonee Robinson - 5
Had a big opportunity to put Fulham ahead in the 17th minute but went for the sidefoot finish and struck it straight at Dean Henderson. The American international’s first touch was questionable and we saw a few moments where his poor control ended attacks.
Hugo Larsson - 4
Thought the Swede was one of the poor performers for the west Londoners and it was no surprise, with them bossing the possession, that he made way for the more creative Tom Cairney.
Sander Berge - 6
Ninety-eight pass accuracy but so often they tend to be sideways. Had to walk a disciplinary tightrope after a caution for pulling back Osorio in the 19th minute. Had one shot from the edge of the box deflected over and was another that was unable to keep a headed opportunity down just before half-time.
Cesar Palacios - 5
The stats show that the Spaniard had the most touches (five) in the opposition box and completed the joint-most dribbles. But I can’t really think of a moment where he really hurt Palace. Sure, there were some neat touches but the former Real Madrid youngster needs to show more than just that.
Alex Iwobi - 5
The 30-year-old lost possession for the Palace goal. Also failed to convert from a few yards out in the second half - hitting the ball straight at Henderson.
Oscar Bobb - 7
Fulham had no end product on the night and so the former Manchester City youngster had no attacking return. But there was still a lot to like about his performance. His directness and dribbling caused the Eagles some issues and he created the most chances (five). There was a lovely one-two to help him power past Ben Chilwell and set up a chance for Berge.
Rodrigo Muniz - 4
The Whites’ number nine scored in the previous two rounds but never looked like maintaining that streak in the competition. The first productive thing he did was deft chest control in the 49th minute that sent Palacios scampering into the Palace half. Powderpuff shot in the 54th minute after Bobb did well to press Honest Ahanor on the edge of the box.
Subs
Josh King - 5
Replaced Palacios on 58 minutes. Couple of flashes of the quality the 19-year-old possesses. Huge talent.
Tom Cairney - 6
More incisive than Larsson - not that it looks difficult for that to be the case. Had a shot blocked inside the box from Robinson’s low cross. Made the joint third most passes into the final third (13) despite only playing 32 minutes.
Timothy Castagne - 5
Like-for-like switch for Tete on 58 minutes. Didn’t do anything wrong. Equally didn’t do anything that really made me take note.
Gonzalo Garcia - 4
There was a fair bit of hype when the 22-year-old arrived at Fulham but it is now nine appearances without a goal. Not sure Arbeloa did him any favours bringing him on wide left on 72 minutes. Sent a header straight at Henderson from a Kevin cross.
Kevin - 5
Only had 12 minutes on the pitch (including stoppage time). Two really poor corners that went harmlessly low at the near post. Good ball for Robinson and Garcia header straight at Henderson
Crystal Palace (3-4-2-1)
Dean Henderson - 7
Back to skipper the Eagles after an ankle injury had ruled him out since September 5 - also a victory at Fulham. Made four saves but it felt like all of them were struck pretty much straight at the England international.
Chris Richards - 8
Excellent. Had the most defensive contributions (18) and seemed to be in the right place at the right time - it was no surprise that he was the Palace defender switched on to get the block on Cairney’s attempt late on.
Jefferson Lerma - 7
There were Fulham appeals for a handball in the first half but it would have been super harsh. Did pick up a yellow for a cynical block on Palacios. Did his job on the right of a back three.
Honest Ahanor - 7
Was it that Palace defended well on the night or Fulham were toothless? Got a big hug from Henderson for getting in front of Muniz from a second-half cross by Robinson.
Ben Chilwell - 6
The former Chelsea man had his hands full with Bobb but stuck manfully to the task.
Oscar Mingueza - 7
Had a let-off after he produced a pass straight to Bobb, just outside the Palace box, in the 12th minute. The Spaniard played a key role in the only goal, winning the ball off Iwobi and sending in the right-sided cross for Nketiah to pounce.
Will Hughes - 5
I couldn’t really tell you what he did. Palace only had 26 per cent possession and completed 207 passes to Fulham’s 717. That meant there was a lot of chasing and hustling.
Cheick Doucoure - 5
Only had 23 touches. Is it being lazy to just repeat what I said about Hughes above?
Evann Guessand - 5
Made a nuisance of himself a few times and had a couple of early forays forward. Booked for a late sliding challenge on Berge.
Dario Osorio - 6
Palace needed to get him on the ball more because the Chilean looked a threat. Officials were unimpressed with appeals he had been fouled by Bassey as he looked to use his pace to burn clear down the right wing in the second half.
Eddie Nketiah - 6
Had 10 touches in the first half, only Rodrigo Muniz had fewer (seven). But he had the one touch that really mattered when he put Palace into a 37th-minute lead from Mingueza’s cross. He loves playing Fulham - his two domestic goals since the end of September 25 have come against them.
Subs -
Tyrick Mitchell - 6
Replaced Chilwell in the 61st minute. Solid.
Adam Wharton - 6
Felt like the closing stages might see the 22-year-old find a defence-splitting pass as Fulham pushed for a leveller but it did not happen.
Dwight McNeil - 5
Had two late chances to put the tie to bed but was pipped to the ball by Lecomte and then produced a weary finish on 81 minutes - except he did not have the excuse of lagging fitness wise after only being on the pitch for 10 minutes.
Daichi Kamada - 5
Huge chance to kill the game but put it wide on 87 minutes.
Yeremy Pino - 6
Neat and tidy. Enjoyed the space as the game became more stretched.
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