Crystal Palace 0 Fulham 0: Scott Parker’s side miss chance to climb and remain three points off safety
FULHAM fluffed a flurry of second-half chances to miss the opportunity to move within a point of Newcastle.
Scott Parker’s side dominated after the break and went close through Joachim Andersen and Josh Maja in particular.
But they could not find a way through against old boss Roy Hodgson and had to settle for a draw.
It did move them a point closer to safety – but to within three of Steve Bruce’s three rather than the one the West Londoners were hoping for.
Given both sides’ pragmatism, this was never going to be a classic.
But the first half was a shocker with only two Andersen headers off target producing anything of any note.
Parker knew he had to go for it and brought on the more attacking Antonee Robinson for Ola Aina at the break.
It sparked a half of dominance full of chances for the visitors – but ultimately none that they could take.
Tosin Adarabioyo glanced Ademola Lookman’s free-kick into Vicente Guaita’s hands as we finally had the game’s first effort on target in the 51st minute.
A number of shots then rained down on the Palace goal in a matter of minutes.
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Centre-back Andersen had most of them, firing in a volley, curling a 30-yard free-kick wide before his best chance – a close-range strike – was brilliantly blocked by Gary Cahill.
Former Eagles target Maja also had his opportunities too, curling wide from the edge of the box before drawing the save of the match from Guaita with a header.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek tried his luck too but his volley sailed narrowly wide, underlining how close Fulham came to a winner.
In the end, Hodgson – who pulled off Fulham’s original great escape in 2008 – and his side proved too tough a nut to crack.
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