Fulham 1 Crystal Palace 2 – Eagles keep up winning record over west London side with Riedewald and Zaha netting

BY RICHARD CAWLEY

Crystal Palace recorded their third consecutive win over Fulham as Jairo Riedewald and Wilfried Zaha were on target by the Thames.

It is the first time the Eagles have won three in a row against their west London opponents since 1930.

Fulham have equalled their longest winless run at the start of a Premier League season and their chances of staying up already look bleak.

Even Tom Cairney’s excellent left-footed finish just before the death did little to lift the mood – as Scott Parker’s team lost for the fifth time in six top-flight matches and remain rooted to the bottom of the table.

It is 12 Premier League London derby defeats in a row for the Whites, who are still winless since promotion via the play-offs.

Palace manager Roy Hodgson enjoyed this return to his former club. The home side dominated possession for long spells but the visitors were able to effectively counter with Zaha – who took his season’s goal haul to five – proving impossible to stop.

But it was an unlikely player who got the ball rolling for the Eagles as Riedewald netted for the first time.

Luka Milivojevic sprayed a ball over the top for Wilfried Zaha and although Fulham keeper Alphonse Areola saved his initial strike the Palace attacker then slipped the ball through for an unmarked Riedewald to tuck home with just nine minutes completed.

Ademola Lookman twice hit the uprights in the first 45 minutes with the hosts targeting the Eagles’ right-hand side where Nathaniel Clyne was making his first start since signing up for a second spell with the SE25 outfit.

Milivojevic curled a free-kick narrowly off target in the final action of the first period.

Fulham dominated possession at the start of the second half but there was precious little end product. Aleksandar Mitrovic, such a potent player when they gained promotion, yet again put in a below par display.

If there was one home player who looked like making something happen for the west Londoners it was Lookman, but even his threat faded after a couple of off-target efforts.

Palace made it 2-0 on 64 minutes. Andros Townsend’s pass was perfectly-weighted for Michy Batshuayi and his low cross was slide home by Zaha, who collided with the post and needed a spell of treatment.

Fulham substitute Aboubakar Kamara was shown a straigth red card by referee Graham Scott before the end of normal time. Initially the official only deemed it worth a booking but changed his mind after a VAR review.

Cairney reduced the deficit with an excellent strike from the edge of the box. But there was no celebration from the Whites skipper.