Fulham’s stroll to victory should set alarm bells ringing in Crystal Palace’s boardroom

BY EDMUND BRACK

The 3-0 defeat to Fulham on Boxing Day was the most sobering performance of Patrick Vieira’s Crystal Palace reign.

Just 44 days after a lifeless 1-0 defeat away to Premier League new boys Nottingham Forest – where the Eagles missed a penalty and failed to register a shot on target – they were put to the sword by last season’s Championship title-winners Fulham.

Tyrick Mitchell’s sending off in the 34th minute for a late foul on Kenny Tete meant Palace had to play the majority of the game without their full quota of 11 players on the pitch. But, in truth, from the first minutes of the contest you could sense the result was only going one way.

Wilfried Zaha struggled through the middle against the physicality of Fulham’s central defensive pairing of Issa Diop and Tim Ream.

Bobby De Cordova-Reid and Harrison Reed harassed Jeffrey Schlupp, Mitchell and James Tomkins at any opportunity.

Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise were not afforded any space to create a spark of magic.

The lack of urgency in Palace’s play was alarming.

The one time they ventured forward with real intent, Olise’s run towards goal saw the ball bounce in front of Jordan Ayew just inside the area but his shot cannoned off the crossbar.

Marco Silva’s side eventually capitalised on a rushed pass from Joachim Andersen, taking the lead in the 31st minute after De Cordova-Reid glanced Aleksandar Mitrovic’s tantalising cross home.

Once James Tomkins was issued with his second yellow card in the 57th minute, the game was a foregone conclusion – the best a heavily depleted Palace could muster after that was the odd burst past the halfway line.

Ream reacted quickest inside the area from a corner, and Mitrovic had one of the most straightforward headers of his career before the referee brought the game to a close.

Palace chairman Steve Parish revealed loan signings would be the main focus of the upcoming January transfer window less than 72 hours before kick-off at Selhurst Park. But more than stop gaps are needed to help strengthen the side.

To place full faith in Mitchell when Patrick van Aanholt was allowed to leave at the end of the 2020-21 season was the correct decision, but not bringing in adequate competition to help challenge the 23-year-old has seen his career stagnate since his England call-up in March.

A culmination of Nathan Ferguson’s injuries and a continual tinkering between Nathaniel Clyne and Joel Ward means Aaron Wan-Bissaka has never fully been replaced since his £50million departure in 2019.

Conor Gallagher always wanted to return to Chelsea once his loan spell at Selhurst Park ended last season, but it was naive not to replenish the energy levels and ferocious pressing attributes which the England international brought to Vieira’s side last season.

And it’s clear that Palace’s French boss does not have a forward who he trusts regularly to lead the line in every game.

They failed to register an effort on Bernd Leno’s goal.

This is the most competitive Premier League the South Londoners have been a part of since they won promotion in 2013.

Teams below the Eagles in the table, such as Aston Villa hiring Unai Emery and Wolves bringing in Julen Lopetegui, are bringing in Champions League-level coaches to avoid relegation.

Bournemouth are under new ownership while Nottingham Forest have shown they are not afraid to throw money at securing 17th at the end of the season.

Palace are by no means safe.

Fulham, who have previously been instantly relegated back down after promotion, have a Premier League winner in Willian, a proven top-flight goalscorer and master of the dark arts in Mitrovic and several internationals littered throughout their side.

The sheer ease in which Marco Silva’s side strolled to victory on Monday should raise alarm bells in the Crystal Palace boardroom. The question is whether the funds can be made available for a stronger rebuild in next month’s trading period if the club’s hierarchy have a rethink about levels of investment required.

Palace could suffer a third defeat in a row against promoted sides on New Year’s Eve when they travel to Bournemouth, which would pile on more pressure and scrutiny.

STAR MAN
Joachim Andersen. The scoreline would have been a lot worse without him.

BEST MOMENT
Ayew’s thunderous shot.