Fulham

Drew Heatley
Fan writer

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We have a lot more in common with Crystal Palace than many Fulham fans care to admit.

In the wake of our defeat on Saturday, more than a few shots were fired at Palace for 'coasting' in the Premier League.

The Eagles are in their 11th consecutive top flight season, during which they have finished no higher than 10th, but finished no lower than 15th.

From 2001 to 2014, we enjoyed 13 Premier League campaigns in a row, then spent the best part of a decade trying to get back to that level of consistency.

But what some people call consistency others call mediocrity - and that is where Fulham fans are divided. Are we targeting the next level, or are we content?

Our January transfer window indicates that the club sits in the latter camp. Bringing 36-year-old Willian in to fill a gap in depth on the wing suggests that we do not expect to be dusting off our passports this summer.

Let's be clear, Fulham do not have the squad depth to compete in Europe next season. If we achieve it, either through our league position or by winning the FA Cup, we will need to spend a lot - and spend wisely - this summer.

We started the campaign with just 24 first-team squad members. You could argue you need double that to sustain challenges domestically and on the continent.

Games like Saturday show how far off we are from the clubs fighting for a place in the top eight. And yet we are safe from any threat of relegation, meaning we will enjoy a fourth straight season of Premier League football. That is something we would have bitten your hand off for in 2022 and something that the majority of Palace fans are content with.

Could mid-table safety be considered dull? Sure. Is it a solid base from which to attempt to reach a higher level? Absolutely.

Fulham must decide which side of that line they sit on.

Find more from Drew Heatley at Fulhamish, external

Matheus Cunha is on fire for Wolves, with four goals in his past four games in all competitions, and his side are now five points clear of the relegation zone with a better goal difference than the teams below them.

They wiped the floor with Fulham at Craven Cottage earlier in the season too, and Cunha scored twice in a 4-1 victory.

It all points towards a Wolves win here too, but I cannot seem to get a Fulham prediction right at the moment so I need to have a proper think about this one.

Because I have been wrong, so often, about Fulham, I am going for the opposite of what I think will happen and back them to win.

Marco Silva's side do actually seem to be better on the road than at home right now, and they beat Newcastle in their last away league game. They didn't click at the weekend against Crystal Palace but they usually have a goal or two in them.

Sutton's prediction: 1-2

Read the full predictions and have your say here

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Wolves are unbeaten in their eight Premier League home games against Fulham, winning six. It is the most times they have faced an opponent at Molineux without losing in the competition. Overall, they are without defeat in their past 15 home league games against the Whites, with their last loss in the second tier in April 1985.

Meanwhile, Fulham have won just one of their past nine Premier League games against Wolves, beating them 3-2 at Craven Cottage in November 2023.

Fulham boss Marco Silva has been speaking to the media before Tuesday's Premier League game at Wolves (kick-off 19:30 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Emile Smith Rowe could be available but will be assessed again after Monday's training session.

• Tom Cairney will also be a late decision as his niggle "is something that can be quickly recovered or it can take a little bit more than one or two days".

• On the home defeat by Crystal Palace and bouncing back: "When you have that type of game where you don't perform at the level you wanted, the best way is to play a quick game again."

• He said Tuesday is a "tough game away from home", but he hopes they can "react" to the previous defeat and return to making "life difficult against any side in any stadium in the country".

• On the threat of Matheus Cunha: "It is not fair [to only talk about him], but we have to be realistic as well. He's a player who in any moment of the game can be decisive, can score, can assist."

• Final words on his expectations: "We know that if we are at our best level then we are able to do it and able to control well the Wolves team. When we are able to do it, punish with our quality."

Follow all of Monday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

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We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Fulham and Crystal Palace.

Here are some of your comments:

Fulham fans

Will: Probably the worst performance of the season - just after one of our best. This lack of consistency is going to get us nowhere. We need to be better for Wolves.

PJ: Shockingly poor. Hard to imagine it was the same starting XI as played against Nottingham Forest as we were utterly bereft of ideas. Too ponderous and predictable. Palace completely dominated in every sense but especially tactically. Marco Silva is far too slow to identify when our tactics are not working. It needed changing after 20, not 80 minutes. When will our players realise that trying to complete 95 passes in an attempt to score is futile?

John: We were so poor that I struggle to remember a single purposeful attempt at scoring. Palace outplayed and outclassed us completely. Too many failing to put in a shift. Too many big price tags? Many Fulham fans must have thought we were going somewhere at last. The upcoming games are ominous: Wolves (who've thrashed us already); Manchester United in the cup, Brighton, Tottenham and Arsenal.

Andrew: As good as Fulham were last week, they were dreadful here. No answer to Palace's pressing and nobody willing to shoot.

Palace fans

Gary: Another great away day. Eberechi Eze was more like his old self. Great goal by Daniel Munoz - and by Jean-Philippe Mateta. Such a shame it was just offside. Every player was fantastic. We need to start winning at home, starting against Aston Villa on Tuesday.

Steve: I thought this was our best performance of the season. Not sure what Oliver Glasner is putting in Will Hughes's coffee but what a season he is having - man of the match for me.

Roger: A convincing victory. The result was never in doubt. Huge contrast to the home game against Fulham earlier in the season. This squad are capable of a strong finish to the season.

Jackb: Probably one of best performances of the season. Everyone on the pitch was great. I'm loving our away form. We just need to really click at home now and who knows what can happen this season?

Chris Latchem
Final Score reporter

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Fulham never really got going on Saturday. It was a rare sloppy show, their fans will hope just a blip.

One reason could have been they did not find a way for Adama Traore to fire up the afterburners. There are few more exciting sights than him at full throttle. He can frighten even the very best full-backs.

However, Traore consistently slowed the ball down, turning inside and searching for Emile Smith Rowe and Raul Jimenez.

He is at his best when he seeks to skin a defender and drill the ball in - as he did to set up Smith Rowe's opener in the win over Nottingham Forest the previous weekend.

I would not be too concerned with the defeat, even one as flat as Saturday.

But for Fulham to get back on the European trail, they could do with utilising Traore's USP.

Get him out wide scaring the defenders and leave the middle of the field to those better suited.

Highlights and analysis from Saturday's seven Premier League fixtures, plus the best of the action from Friday's game between Leicester and Brentford.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Arsenal 0-1 West Ham

• Aston Villa 2-1 Chelsea

Adwaidh Rajan
BBC Sport journalist

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It was a day to forget for Fulham as they fell to a 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace at Craven Cottage on Saturday.

It comes as a huge blow for Marco Silva's side, who had the chance go one point behind sixth-placed Bournemouth in their bid to secure a place in Europe next season.

"Certain standards that should be in our game were not there," said Silva after a game that saw them fail to register a single shot on target.

It was the first time since a 2-0 defeat by Newcastle United in May 2021 that the Cottagers had failed to have a shot on target in a league fixture.

Apart from inciting a half-hearted penalty appeal after doing down under a challenge from Maxence Lacroix in the second half, Raul Jimenez, Fulham's top scorer with nine goals this season, was largely on the periphery.

Alex Iwobi and Adama Traore were also kept quiet on the wings by a brilliant Palace defence while injuries to Emile Smith Rowe and substitute Tom Cairney will compound Silva's woes as they enter a crucial period of the season.

Silva's side will need to bounce back quickly when they travel to Wolves on Tuesday, if they are keep their hunt for a place in the Champions League alive.

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Fulham manager Marco Silva, speaking to Sky Sports: "The first half was balanced. We didn't allow them to press like they usually do. We did it the way we should and the way we wanted. They came up with a different way. We didn't create enough chances.

"In the first 30 minutes we arrived with the ball in certain areas well but the moments to create clear chances weren't there. After that some decisions went against us and there was nerves in the stadium. We gave many things to them that you can't do at this level. I thought it was a foul for the corner before their first goal and moments like that can be decisive.

"The second half was really strange. The moment we made the changes, they scored a goal in transition. That was our fault clearly, we have to be more aggressive and kill it, with the rules of course. After that everything was more difficult for us.

"The physicality is for both sides. The Premier League is a physical game. I never saw, this season or last season, Craven Cottage complaining as much today about decisions. We like to be a physical side but today we were unlucky with the referee. It is not the first time this season.

"They can have bad afternoons and it was clear today was a bad afternoon for the referee."

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Fulham failed to have a shot on target in a Premier League home match for the first time since May 2021 against Newcastle.

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Fulham's performance

What did you make of Crystal Palace's display?

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

I find both these teams impossible to predict so, let's face it, anything could happen here.

Crystal Palace lost to Everton last week but actually played pretty well.

I talked about how Fulham have struggled at home recently but then they went and beat Nottingham Forest at Craven Cottage.

My instinct tells me to go for a draw but I actually think Fulham will make it back-to-back home wins - so Palace will probably end up taking the points.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

There are seven Premier League games on Saturday, and we will bring you every moment.

• Everton v Manchester United (12:30)

• Bournemouth v Wolves

• Ipswich v Tottenham

• Southampton v Brighton

• Arsenal v West Ham - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Fulham v Crystal Palace

• Aston Villa v Chelsea (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live (coverage will start on 5 Sports Extra)

Kick-off times 15:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all the action and reaction here

Henry Brownsey
BBC Sport journalist

Fulham boss Marco Silva has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Crystal Palace (kick-off 15:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• On-loan winger Reiss Nelson "could be out until the end of the season" after he underwent hamstring surgery.

• Silva said it is a "tough moment" for the club after they were "all excited" for Nelson to return after the 25-year-old had recovered from his previous hamstring injury.

• On Nelson's future, Silva says it's "too early" to decide if he will return to the club after his loan.

• On other team news: "No fresh injuries, still the same, Sasa [Lukic] is going to be ready to be in contention - Kenny Tete and Harry Wilson are out."

• On Sasa Lukic: "He's been great, what a season for him - not a surprise. Last season he had some moments not at his best level but was really good. He's a player that we really believe in and trust. The first moment he joined our club we thought he'd be really important - it's been a great season from him so far."

• Joachim Andersen will face his former club this weekend and Silva said the defender has been "really good", adding: "That's the reason we signed him, he knew the football club before and he's a defender with the profile that we were looking for - he's helping us and knows the league."

• Silva praised Antonee Robinson, adding: "He's been crucial - what a player for me. I had him at Everton and for him to perform and be a proper Premier League full-back, he moved a bit to become the player we see right now, but his improvement has been great."

• On the possibility of Europe: "I want them [the fans] to be confident. If they're dreaming of something - it's a good sign that they recognise our quality and are pleased with the way the team are performing. We will fight really hard to achieve something with this club."

• Silva says his players are "excited but also realistic" regarding playing in Europe. He added: "They know we have to perform at our best level. I will never stop them from thinking that they can achieve really important things with the club - I motivate and train them to achieve important things."

• On Saturday's opponents Crystal Palace: "Their away form is really, really impressive - in the first three months they had a tough moment, but they've bounced back. We have to play at our best level."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

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Marco Silva is a fantastic manager. You can see that with what he has done at Fulham.

But, he is not just a fantastic manager. There are the two sides to management - there is the management side and then there is the coaching side. Silva has both of those.

There certainly will be other clubs with Silva in mind and there should be because, as has been said, the job he has done with Fulham is fantastic. What I like about him is his human side. I have seen some social media clips at Fulham where you hear him addressing the team and how he talks to players - that is part of it, the communication with players and the personable ability with players.

Having that side really does help and I do not think that is a side of it that you really get to see. When you see how he is in these clips behind the scenes then you think "this is a manager I want to play under".

Silva seems to be honest and fair. You look at Emile Smith Rowe as an example. He came in and was flying at the start but then had a real dip in form and from Silva it was like: "Come and sit next to me for a little bit". And he worked his way back into the team.

Harry Wilson was another example where he was not starting and was coming off the bench and scoring goals late on. I remember in one of the clips, the manager making sure he knew he would get his chance if he just stuck with it. That kind of communication as a collective really helps.

That is the management side of it but then from the coaching side, if you look at the way in which they play, they are really exciting team to watch. With some of the individuals and the qualities Silva gets out of them, it proves that he is a very good manager.

It could be difficult to keep hold of him if a big club is to come in because I am sure he is an ambitious manager as well, but I think he does really enjoy being the Fulham boss too.

Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson

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We asked for your views on Antonee Robinson's form this season, how key he is in Marco Silva's team and whether he is the best left-back in the Premier League.

Here are some of your replies:

Will: Robinson is absolutely imperative to this season's success. He is the best left-back in the league. Without his relentless running and crossing, we wouldn't be where we are today. He is a must-keep in the summer.

Allan: He is to Fulham what Leif Davis is to Ipswich - top notch.

Luke: It's amazing that Jedi has gone from being dropped for Joe Bryan to becoming the best left-back in the league. Only Josko Gvardiol and Milos Kerkez come close. His crossing has improved massively this season and his one-v-one defending is criminally underrated.

Yusuf: Robinson is a hidden gem and he is starting to come out as a talent Fulham's squad have been needing for a while. From providing crucial assists to outrunning defenders, I definitely think this season has been Robinson's best. There is more to come from him.

Peter: Robinson is superb but it is Silva who has persisted with him, developed him over the years and now made him captain. Robinson is probably our most valuable player, but it is Silva we can least afford to lose.

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Following their 2-0 win at Selhurst Park in November, Fulham are looking to complete the league double over Crystal Palace for the first time since the 2000-01 second-tier campaign under Jean Tigana.

Palace are now winless in their past six against the Whites (D4 L2). The Eagles are, however, unbeaten in their past five at Craven Cottage (W2 D3).

Phil Cartwright
BBC Sport journalist

Fulham find themselves right in the battle for European qualification with a third of the season to go.

One of their stars of the campaign has been left-back Antonee Robinson, who is one of only four outfield players across the Premier League to have played every minute of every match for their club so far in 2024-25.

Most impressive has been his work in attacking areas; his tally of 10 assists is more than any other defender in England's top flight this season, while only Mohamed Salah of Liverpool has set up more goals for his side.

The USA international has created 33 chances for Fulham, which places him fourth among defenders on that metric. Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold (45) leads the way, with Leif Davis of Ipswich (43) and Tottenham's Pedro Porro (37) close behind.

Defensively, he has not made any errors that have led directly to goals this season, while only two defenders have made more successful tackles - Daniel Munoz of Crystal Palace (59) and Noussair Mazraoui of Manchester United (44).

Of the 46 defenders to have attempted 30 tackles or more in the Premier League this season, Robinson's tackle success rate of 66.15% ranks him 12th.

However, Alexander-Arnold (38) is the only defender who has been dribbled past on more occasions than Robinson (33).

What have you made of Robinson's performances this season? Is he the best left-back in the Premier League? Is he the player that Fulham can least afford to lose in the closing weeks of the season?

Send us your thoughts

*Statistics correct on 18 February, 2025