Crystal Palace’s remarkable rise under Oliver Glasner continued at Craven Cottage, where captain Marc Guehi soared highest to head home an 86th-minute winner and propel his side into the Premier League’s top four with a dramatic 2–1 victory over Fulham. The away end erupted as Guehi wheeled away in celebration, a fitting finale to a derby that swung back and forth with relentless energy.
Palace arrived with murmurs of Champions League ambition circling them, whispers Glasner had dismissed earlier in the week. But with an FA Cup triumph, a Community Shield win, European progress and now a top-four position heading into December, it is becoming increasingly difficult to pretend Palace are not punching above historic heights.
The match itself unfolded at a frenetic pace. Fulham opened with a flurry of set-pieces that threatened to unsettle Palace, yet it was the visitors who struck first. Eddie Nketiah, making his first league start of the season, seized a loose ball on the edge of the box and drilled a crisp finish low into the corner — a moment of sharpness that rewarded Palace’s early resilience.
Fulham, undeterred, carved out chances of their own. Dean Henderson produced a superb reflex save to deny Emile Smith Rowe, but he could do nothing when Harry Wilson bent a stunning equaliser into the far corner with the outside of his boot — a flourish of technique that showcased the Welshman at his most inventive.
Craven Cottage, already still buzzing from the nine-goal spectacle against Manchester City earlier in the week, felt primed for another dramatic night. Fulham’s momentum swelled early in the second half when Alex Iwobi’s header struck the post and Smith Rowe tucked in the rebound, only for VAR to intervene. A marginal offside against Samuel Chukwueze in the build-up wiped the goal away, leaving Fulham’s players and supporters crestfallen.
As the minutes ticked down, Palace began to regain control. They attacked with increasing belief, showing none of the fatigue that had crept into their recent performances. Glasner refused to settle for a point, urging his side to push higher, and that ambition was rewarded. A superbly delivered set piece picked out Guehi, who powered his header beyond Bernd Leno to seal a victory forged in persistence and composure.
Fulham, without a league victory over Palace in nearly two decades, once again left frustrated — particularly at the disallowed goal. Marco Silva lamented the decision, suggesting Chukwueze had been punished for a “toe nail,” and rued his side’s slow ball circulation and inability to convert sustained pressure into a decisive second goal.
Palace, meanwhile, march on. Their defensive organisation, attacking discipline and refusal to sit back in the final stages all hinted at a team with growing confidence and maturity. Whether or not Glasner welcomes the talk, the Premier League table says enough: Crystal Palace are flying, and the rest of the league is being forced to take notice.
