Crystal Palace secured their first Premier League win of the season with a dramatic 3-2 comeback victory at Fulham on Saturday. Ben Chilwell, a deadline-day signing, came off the bench to volley home the decisive goal in the 77th minute, as reported by the Independent.
Pierre Sage's side twice trailed at Craven Cottage but fought back each time. Tyrick Mitchell scored both equalisers for the visitors, who moved up to 13th in the Premier League table with three points from their opening three games.
How did Crystal Palace win at Fulham?
Josh King gave Fulham an early lead, but Mitchell levelled before half-time. Cesar Palacios restored the hosts' advantage just before the break. Mitchell scored his second after the interval to set the stage for Chilwell's late heroics. The Independent's match report detailed how Chilwell, who had re-joined the club permanently from Strasbourg, found the net just three minutes after being introduced as a substitute.
Fulham dominated possession and had 25 shots but were punished for not taking their chances. The Guardian noted that new Fulham manager Álvaro Arbeloa was left frustrated, saying his team "didn't deserve to lose" but needed to be more clinical. Palace's victory continued their strong recent record at Craven Cottage.
What is Crystal Palace's current league standing?
The win lifts Crystal Palace to 13th place in the Premier League. They have three points from one win and two losses. Their goal difference stands at minus four, having scored four and conceded eight so far this campaign. They are six points behind early leaders Manchester City. You can view the full standings for the latest table.
Pierre Sage's squad also has several injury concerns to manage. Key players currently sidelined include Chadi Riad, Ismaïla Sarr, Jean-Philippe Mateta, and Honest Ahanor. The latest injuries list provides updates on their fitness.
What did the managers say after the match?
Crystal Palace boss Pierre Sage acknowledged his team's struggles in the first half. "Today's lesson was free because we won but we were inefficient in buildup during the first half," he told The Guardian. Sage also expressed his dislike for the ongoing transfer window uncertainty.
Fulham's Álvaro Arbeloa reflected on a tough result. "We lost a game that we didn't deserve to lose," he said. "But in football you need to take your chances and they did that better than us." The defeat leaves Fulham still searching for their first points of the season.
What is next for Crystal Palace?
Attention now turns to Palace's next fixture, a home match against Ipswich Town on September 12. Ipswich are currently 14th in the table, setting up a closely contested encounter at Selhurst Park. The full schedule is available on the club's fixtures page. The Eagles will be aiming to build momentum and climb further up the table with a positive result.
