Crystal Palace 1-1 Fulham: Mateta header not enough as Cairney clinches vital New Year point | OneFootball

Crystal Palace were left to settle for a point as Tom Cairney’s late equaliser denied them a much-needed Premier League win against Fulham at Selhurst Park.

Jean-Philippe Mateta’s first-half header looked set to end Palace’s frustrating run until Fulham’s pressure finally told in the closing stages.

The draw extended Palace’s winless sequence in the league and underlined the fatigue that has crept into Oliver Glasner’s side after a demanding schedule.

Palace began brightly and controlled the early phases with purpose and intensity.

Marc Guehi forced Bernd Leno into a sharp save from close range as the hosts signalled their intent.

Fulham offered threat on the counter, with Harry Wilson testing Dean Henderson before Raul Jimenez failed to capitalise on the rebound.

The breakthrough arrived when Nathaniel Clyne delivered an inviting cross from the right and Mateta rose unchallenged to head home.

The goal came with Fulham temporarily reduced to ten men, as Jorge Cuenca received treatment off the pitch, and Palace took full advantage.

Palace carried momentum into the interval and could have doubled their lead before the break, but wastefulness kept Fulham within reach.

The tempo shifted after half-time as Palace began to fade and Fulham grew in confidence.

Jimenez came agonisingly close to equalising when his header struck the post just before the hour mark.

That miss proved a warning as Fulham increasingly pinned Palace back.

Palace struggled to clear their lines and relied on last-ditch defending to preserve their advantage.

Bernd Leno’s touch onto the crossbar from a corner almost proved costly, but Marc Guehi blocked Maxence Lacroix’s follow-up on the line.

Fulham finally found their reward when Cairney, introduced from the bench, curled a superb strike into the corner from the edge of the area.

The equaliser shifted momentum completely and Palace were suddenly clinging on.

Fulham pressed for a winner in stoppage time and created the clearest chances of the match.

Henderson produced an excellent save to deny Timothy Castagne from close range.

Joachim Andersen then blazed over with virtually the final kick, compounding Palace’s sense of relief.

The final whistle brought mixed reactions, with Palace grateful to escape defeat but frustrated at another missed opportunity.

Glasner’s side have now gone several matches without a league win and continue to search for rhythm and sharpness.

The imminent arrival of Brennan Johnson should provide a lift, but Palace’s immediate concern remains converting control into results.

Fulham, by contrast, extended their unbeaten run and left south London feeling they could have claimed all three points.

Cairney’s intervention ensured Marco Silva’s side remain firmly in the hunt alongside Palace in a congested mid-table picture.