The managers may have changed but the result stays the same. For the fourth successive trip to this part of west London, Crystal Palace returned over the river with three points as Pierre Sage got his reign off the mark in dramatic style. Their hero was Ben Chilwell, the former England left-back who was signed on deadline day from Strasbourg after helping Palace to win the FA Cup last year, after he came off the bench to volley home the winner.
It was a bitter blow to take for Fulham’s new manager Alvaro Arbeloa, who had seen his side lead twice through the impressive Josh King – who showed his real potential in front of the watching England manager, Thomas Tuchel – and César Palacios before being pegged back twice by Tyrick Mitchell, the second in a moment of pure slapstick. Arbeloa and his side left the pitch to boos from some supporters and remain pointless after three matches. But having won here three times in 2025 under Oliver Glasner, this has been a happy hunting ground for Palace and Chilwell could not contain his delight as he celebrated with Sage and the travelling fans at the full-time whistle.
I like to know who I will work with.” Fulham, who enjoyed almost 65% possession and racked up 25 shots in total, had looked more likely to end their winless start until Mitchell’s second goal swung the momentum decisively in Palace’s favour. They have now conceded seven goals in the opening three matches and Arbeloa – who was managing Real Madrid a few months ago – knows they must improve before next week’s trip to face Liverpool at Anfield. But in football you need to take your chances and they did that better than us,” he said.
A sloppy early pass from Jaydee Canvot inside the first minute that almost handed Palacios an opportunity betrayed the nerves of Palace’s defence that had Chelsea loanee Axel Disasi in the centre of the back three also favoured by Sage’s predecessor. Fulham took the lead when Adam Wharton failed to clear a cross from Oscar Bobb and it fell straight into the path of King, whose shot took a big deflection to deceive Dean Henderson. It was typical of Sage’s luck in his first month at the helm that a superb Palace equaliser less than two minutes later was chalked off.
Daichi Kamada had strayed millimetres offside before volleying in a brilliant cross with the outside of his boot from Yéremy Pino. The visitors could have found themselves 2-0 down when Henderson saved a Timothy Castagne shot from close range but Mitchell beat Bernd Leno at his near post to equalise against the run of play after being set up by Eddie Nketiah. Palace’s joy was shortlived, however.
Chris Richards – being watched by his USA manager Mauricio Pochettino – was fooled by King’s clever dummy and the England Under-21 midfielder accepted the invitation to burst into the box. His cross would have been diverted into his own net by Canvot had it not been for an excellent save from Henderson. Palacios accepted the opportunity to put the ball into the empty net.
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