C PALACE 2 FULHAM Bat revives the wide awake club LATE-NIGHT SIGNING STARS
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ROY HODGSON was asleep when Michy Batshuayi signed on Thursday – but now the Belgian could wake Crystal Palace from their own slumber.
The Chelsea loanee took just five minutes after climbing off the bench to set up the goal that killed off Fulham with a bit of magic.
Batshuayi’s superb shot on the turn was magnificently saved by Sergio Rico before Jeff Schlupp put in the rebound to add to Luka Milivojevic’s first-half penalty.
This encounter was certainly not a thriller, especially as Palace were without their suspended wizard Wilfried Zaha.
But Hodgson may just have found a spark thanks to Batshuayi.
The Eagles boss said: “It was an impact!
“I only met him at 4pm on Friday and he played 24 hours later.
“It was strong of him to come in at short notice to do what he did.
“We think we have signed a player with enormous value in our attempts to stay in the division.
“We’ r e now stronger. It was an important victory for us as we did not pass the ball well enough in the first half but got a lucky break with the penalty.”
Palace now find themselves seven points above the drop zone – but Fulham looked doomed.
Even after their comeback from 2-0 down to win 4-2 at home to Brighton in midweek, they are seven points from safety.
And now Fulham have the little matter of Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City in their next four Craven Cottage fixtures.
Initially, though they looked like they might take that second half against Brighton into this south London derby.
Aleksandar Mitrovic missed a real sitter, nodding over unmarked from six yards from Joe Bryan’s cross.
It never got any better for the Whites after Cyrus Christie handled in the area under a challenge with Christian Benteke, making his first start since September.
Milivojevic did the rest, making no mistake with the 25th-minute spot-kick despite the best attempts of Rico. The Serbian has now scored 13 penalties since the start of last term.
For all their pretty football,
Fulham are the first side to Fulham seemed scared in the final third.
And Palace should have punished them with Benteke denied a wonder goal after his scissor kick from Andros Townsend’s cross that struck the bar.
Hodgson’s men missed
Fulham have let in the most away goals this season (32). further chances in the second half with Rico denying both Jordan Ayew and Schlupp with impressive saves.
Mitrovic’s threat always left Fulham with a chance but Hodgson threw on Batshuayi to delight the Palace ultras.
And he immediately showed just why he has been signed with an impressive cameo to finally see off a Fulham side who should have been killed off much earlier. Miracle worker Claudio Ranieri is certainly not giving up though.
The Fulham boss said: “We have to be positive. We have a target in mind and we have to fight.
“We may have lost the battle but we have not lost the war.
“If you analyse the match it was a little bit disappointing.
“We have so many big teams coming to Craven Cottage – but maybe we can take points off the big teams.”