The lowdown on Fulham 0 Crystal Palace 3 – Eagles book FA Cup last four spot with ruthless Craven Cottage win

Crystal Palace secured a sixth FA Cup semi-final in their history after a ruthless performance at Craven Cottage.

Here is the lowdown on the match.

THE LINE-UPS

Fulham: Leno, Castagne, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson (Sessegnon, 71), Berge, Lukic (Traore, 63), Iwobi (Cairney, 82), Pereira (Smith Rowe, 63), Willian (Jiminez, 71), Muniz.

Subs not used: Benda, Reed, Cuenca, Diop.

Crystal Palace: Henderson, Richards. Lacroix, Guehi, Munoz (Clyne, 87), Wharton (Kamada, 70), Lerma, Mitchell, Sarr (Devenny, 87), Eze (Franca, 90), Mateta (Nketiah, 70)

Subs not used: Turner, Kphora, Chilwell, Esse.

SNAPSHOT OF THE GAME

The Eagles came away from SW6 with their ball in the draw for the last four and one step away from a third FA Cup final.

Though Oliver Glasner’s men won at a canter in the end, it wasn’t all plain sailing. Fulham started much the better and the visitors struggled to impose themselves.

Marco Silva’s team were unable to make long spells of possession – they enjoyed 70 per cent over the 90 minutes – into meaningful chances.

Palace on the other hand were very efficient in both boxes, clinically taking the opportunities created. After Eberechi Eze’s opening goal on 34 minutes and Ismalia Sarr’s headed second four minutes later, they were never in any real trouble.

Two substitutes, Daichi Kamada and Eddie Nketiah, combined for the latter to settle the contest with a third, a quarter of an hour before the end.

Statistically, there was not too much between the teams, but Palace showed a tremendous level of efficiency and that was the real difference.

TACTICAL APPROACH

Palace boss Glasner stuck with his trusted 3-4-2-1 formation, with Will Hughes absent through illness, there were no surprises within the selection.

The Eagles perhaps didn’t enjoy the supremacy of the recent Premier League encounter but ran out winners but an extra goal. So difficult have they become to breakdown, the home side’s boss Silva, attempted to change personnel and shape throughout the second period without being able to gain a foothold in the contest.

STAR MAN

Eze. The Englishman’s tail was up after his first international goal earlier in the week. His quality was the difference. His goal was terrific, and so was his delicate left-footed cross, finished by Sarr for the second.

BEST MOMENT

Eze’s wonderful goal. Receiving the ball in a pocket of space on the left, he cut inside onto his right foot and beat Bernd Leno to his left via the inside of his post from twenty yards out.

MOAN OF THE MATCH

There was little to moan about from a Palace perspective.

Adam Wharton’s ill-judged tangle with Rodrigo Muniz, when already on a booking incensed home boss Silva, who thought that the England midfielder’s niggly kick in reaction should have resulted in a second yellow and a sending off, was the biggest concern.

Thankfully, for Palace, referee Darren England, who is an unpopular figure with the fans after a number of controversial moments in recent seasons, decided no further action was necessary.  Those worried that they may be facing ‘twelve men’ in black and white before the game need not have been concerned.

TALKING POINTS DOWN THE PUB

Could this be Palace’s year?

They are in great form, and this was a tremendous team performance away from Selhurst Park.

This was the sixth win away from home to nil in all competitions and the seventh away in a row with a successive clean sheet.

A fourth meeting of the season with Aston Villa under the Wembley arch awaits, with Palace winning two and drawing the other encounter.

A huge task is in front of them, but Villa will not relish facing the boys from SE25.

WHAT THE BOSS HAD TO SAY

“For the first 15 to 20 minutes we had no structure. We struggled and were rusty after three weeks without any competitive games.

“But we survived and stayed together, we had great support from our fans and kept a clean sheet.

“We never lost our belief.

“Jefferson Lerma hit the post and after Eberechi Eze scored an amazing goal. From this moment on the structure was much better and we defended much better and waited for our situations.”

PICTURES: KEITH GLLARD