Fulham (0) 1 v Crystal Palace (1) 2
8 Reidewald, assist Zaha 90+5 Cairney
63 Zaha, assist Batshuayi Red: Kamara
Yellow: Guaita
Played at Craven Cottage on Saturday 24 October 2020, attendance nil.
Firstly my apologies if you read in the “first edition” of this blog that this match was to be played at Selhurst Park! If you did I am sure you would not have gone to the wrong ground since unfortunately spectators are still not allowed as you know. At the present rate that date will keep getting put back as football becomes more and more a TV spectacle.
As for the game itself it was another defeat for Fulham with the very fine late left strike by midfielder Tom Cairney being hardly a consolation goal. Late in the game the Cottagers had also lost substitute Aboubakar Kamara after a high tackle on the visitor’s Eberechi Eze to a straight red from VAR. Man of the match was Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha who set up team mate Jairo Reidewald’s first goal for the Eagles both in this match and for the Club. The Dutchman, brought to London from Ajax Amsterdam by Frank De Boer in his short time as Manager in July 2017, ran on to a brilliant short pass from Zaha to finish with composure.
This set the tone for Zaha’s performance throughout the match, with an audacious overhead pass which probably was more judgement than luck followed by a close range goal from a good cross by Michy Batshuayi, himself enjoying better form away from Chelsea. Is this Zaha shining himself up for the January transfer window or has he realised life is being very good to him where he is? As for Fulham, well they hit both posts through Ademola Lookman, but it looks like that sort of luck might well be theirs this season.
Andrew at PLDs.