Crystal Palace vs Fulham; Premier League
Crystal Palace vs Fulham. Premier League.
Selhurst ParkAttendance25,111.
Crystal Palace 1-1 Fulham: Tom Cairney nets first goal of the season to deny Eagles a winning start to 2026
Report and free match highlights as Tom Cairney scored a second-half equaliser to rescue Fulham a point at Crystal Palace; Jean-Philippe Mateta opened the scoring, ending his eight-game run without a goal from open play; Cairney became Fulham's fifth-oldest goalscorer in the Premier League
Thursday 1 January 2026 20:31, UK
Tom Cairney came off the bench to net a stunner to secure Fulham a 1-1 draw at Selhurst Park as Crystal Palace's festive rot extended into the new year, extending the Eagles' run without a win to five games.
Having lost three on the bounce to end 2025, Oliver Glasner's side will have thought his new year's resolution to ensure Palace convert their chances came true when Jean-Philippe Mateta opened the scoring.
The France international ended an eight-game run without a goal from open play when he met an inviting Nathaniel Clyne cross to head home. However, Fulham skipper Cairney, a second-half substitute for Sander Berge, fired home from the edge of the box with his first goal of the season.
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A cagey start from both sides ensured the second latest a game had seen a shot in the Premier League this season with 23 minutes on the clock. Both sides being unchanged for the clash perhaps played a part in a slow start.
Fulham, though, looked the more likely in the early exchanges. The away side came closest when Raul Jimenez scuffed an effort in a flurry of Fulham chances that also saw Dean Henderson palm away a venomous Harry Wilson effort.
However, Marc Guehi drawing a stop from Bernd Leno seemed to have lifted the home side who would then find a lead eight minutes later.
Fulham kept up their pursuit, coming even closer when Jimenez's header bounced off the upright in the second period. However, soon after his introduction, Cairney became the fifth-oldest Fulham goalscorer at 34 years and 346 days old, pulling off his shirt in the 3°C cold as he wheeled off to celebrate.
A point for Fulham very nearly became all three but Henderson reacted at point-blank range to deny Jimenez in added time.
In a result that does very little for both sides with Fulham and Palace still level on points in ninth and tenth, Glasner will be hopeful that an reportedly imminent Brennan Johnson transfer will speedily conclude to help inspire his free-falling side.
