Tom Cairney came off the bench to score a stunner to earn Fulham a 1-1 draw at Selhurst Park as Crystal Palace’s revelry continued into the new year as the Eagles’ winless run extended to five games.
Oliver Glasner’s side, who ended 2025 with three defeats on the bounce, would have thought their New Year’s resolution to seal Palace’s chances with Jean-Philippe Mateta’s opener had come true.
The French national team player responded with a cross from Nathaniel Clyne and scored a header, ending an eight-game winless streak since the opening game. But Cairney, a second-half substitute for Fulham captain Sander Berge, scored his first goal of the season from the edge of the box.
Both teams got off to a calm start and with 23 minutes left they were assured of a shot on goal in the second slowest game in the Premier League this season. The lack of change in the game for both players probably contributed to the slow start.
However, in early interactions Fulham appeared to be the more likely option. The visitors came closest when Fulham’s flurry of chances resulted in Raul Jimenez scoring and Dean Henderson latching onto Harry Wilson’s fierce shot.
However, Marc Göch appeared to put the home side ahead after setting up Bernd Leno and they took the lead eight minutes later. The goal came after Jorge Cuenca left the field in accordance with the 30-second protocol despite refusing medical treatment, temporarily reducing Fulham to 10 men.
Fulham continued their pursuit and came even closer in the second period when Jimenez’s header was deflected off the right wing. But shortly after joining, Cairney became Fulham’s fifth-oldest goalscorer at 34 years and 346 days, and set out to celebrate without his shirt in 3C temperatures.
Fulham almost had all three points, but Henderson responded from close range to deny Jimenez a goal in stoppage time.
Fulham and Palace are still level on points, ninth and 10th, which doesn’t bode well for either team, but Glasner will be hoping that the reportedly impending transfer of Brennan Johnson can be finalized quickly to give his struggling squad a boost.
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Jean-Philippe Mateta will lead Crystal Palace against Fulham!
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Tom Cairney equalizes between Fulham and Crystal Palace!
Glassner: That’s a good point – we’re in survival mode.
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner told Sky Sports:
“For us, that’s a good point, there was a big save from Dean Henderson at the end and it’s no surprise to me that we’re in a bit of survival mode.
“It didn’t matter how we played as long as we were fresh, but then the pressure increased and we couldn’t escape the pressure (from Fulham). After that it was just a matter of time before we conceded the equalizer.”
“Now, we have three more games coming up in the next nine days and we don’t expect the players to come back. It’s not our job to come together and do our best and get the most points.
“After three consecutive defeats, it’s important to get a point at home to break this downward spiral. Credit to the players. I know they wanted more, but they couldn’t do it. We have to protect them. That’s why it was a good point today.”
“It’s not a lack of confidence, I know my legs are getting tired and I know my mind is getting a little tired, but there’s no other chance.
“We know that everyone is going to give their best, so with three more games we can get a little bit of a rest. Hopefully, with one, two or three players coming back and adding one or two to the squad, it will be easier to give the players a little more rest.”
“It’s not great football at the moment, but it’s really about going game by game and point by point.”
On Brennan Johnson: “I’ve been focused on this game for the last three or four hours. I have to look at my phone and see if I get any messages. If this is true, someone will let me know.”
Silva: There was no reason to miss Palace’s goal
Fulham head coach Marco Silva told Sky Sports:
“I was disappointed because I felt like we deserved more because we were the team that played better and produced more.
“We conceded a goal at a moment when we were controlling the game – a moment we shouldn’t have played with 10 men.
“We can’t keep pulling players off the pitch just because a player falls down. The game is very physical and if you feel a moment like a hand on your face, it’s normal for you to fall. People complain about faces, but it’s not a head injury.”
“You can’t keep putting 10 men in every time, whether it’s something serious or something prudent. There’s no reason for us to have 10 men and the referees have to understand that.
“It’s not just about us. We’re seeing more, but that’s no reason at all. Teams should play 11-on-11… If we’re serious, I definitely agree about these moments, but there’s no reason for us to play with 10.”
“Of course, we need to be more mature in that moment to control the situation after the throw-in. We lost the duel, but from that moment they scored.
“It’s not a rule that should be changed. I think referees should manage the game in a completely different way.
“The team reacted well. This goal (goal) boosted Crystal Palace’s confidence, but then there were some dangerous moments. We reacted well in the second half. Even in front of goal… Tom Cairney was also a big influence.”
“Overall, the players deserved more from this game in terms of points, but our reaction, attitude, dedication and ambition to push for more results was good.”
