Crystal Palace secured a decisive 1‑0 victory over Fulham at Selhurst Park, with Eddie Nketiah’s late strike giving manager Pierre Sage a much‑needed boost as the club booked its third straight quarter‑final spot in the competition. The win also ended a 10‑match winless streak at the ground that began in January 2005, and it provided a reprieve for Sage, who has already seen Arsenal, the team that beat Palace twice in the same period, eliminated from the tournament. His next test, however, will be against Tottenham Hotspur in mid‑December, a match that could determine whether he remains in charge.
The match was a relief for Palace after a series of exhausting fixtures. Sage had rotated his squad heavily, including the return of goalkeeper Dean Henderson, who had been sidelined for a month. Henderson’s last‑minute save from Gonzalo García was pivotal, and his performance helped silence the boos that had gathered at the final whistle. In contrast, Fulham’s manager Álvaro Arbeloa, who had enjoyed a brief run of form with 1‑0 victories over Hull and Coventry, was left disappointed by the result and the fact that he will not face Palace again this season.
Palace’s attack struggled in the first half, with only 22 % possession and no shots on target in Fulham’s box. The visitors’ midfield was disrupted by Cheick Doucouré’s debut, who had been out injured for months. Despite this, Palace managed to break the deadlock when Óscar Mingueza delivered a precise cross to Nketiah, who finished with a volley into the net. Fulham had a chance to equalise just before half‑time when Sander Berge’s header missed the crossbar, leaving the away fans stunned.
In the second half, Palace appeared more confident. Evann Guessand forced a save from Benjamin Lecomte, and Rodrigo Muniz’s weak shot was a missed opportunity for the visitors. Arbeloa brought on Josh King, but Fulham’s attempts to create danger were largely thwarted. Daichi Kamada and Dwight McNeil had late chances to seal the win, but neither could find the back of the net. The match ended with Palace celebrating another potential trip to Wembley, while Fulham supporters expressed frustration at the loss.
With the win, Crystal Palace moves closer to a historic run in the competition, and Pierre Sage’s position appears strengthened for now. The club will now turn its attention to the upcoming fixture against Tottenham Hotspur, a game that will test the manager’s future and the team’s resilience as the season progresses.