Crystal Palace reach the FA Cup semi final at the expense of Fulham

 Crystal Palace reach the FA Cup semi final at the expense of Fulham

For both Crystal Palace and Fulham this was very much a defining moment in their season. Lose and their Premier League campaign fades into obscurity or win and the sky's the limit, a day of wild celebration and revelry. Both Palace and Fulham have served up some of the most attractive football throughout this season but now was not the time for throwing the dice and calculated gambles. 

Yesterday, down by the placid River Thames, Craven Cottage's always quaint and welcoming ground opened its doors to its local London neighbours from Selhurst Park, Crystal Palace. It was an amiable kind of reception, mutual flattery promptly shared but FA Cup glory was at stake and there was no sentiment or respect for each other here. This is the business end of the season and that meant the last four in the FA Cup had now become a vitally important contest. 

Some of us were hoping that 50 years after their last and only FA Cup Final appearance, Fulham would be going hell for leather, storming the barricades and ready to give blood, sweat and tears for the cause. For the first twenty minutes or so the Cottagers recalled the days of Viv Busby, Les Strong,  John Mitchell, Alan Mullery and, of course, the incomparable Bobby Moore. But Fulham's 2-0 defeat to London rivals West Ham probably still rankles with their fans and here was an opportunity to redeem themselves.

And so here we were at the Cottage, the ground where once the dearly missed and beloved George Best once teased and taunted Hereford United mercilessly in an overwhelming 4-0 victory in the old Second Division. The sight of Best and his fellow exhibitionist Rodney Marsh, dancing and prancing, carousing and cavorting with poor Hereford will live in our memories for an eternity. 

Nowadays Marco Silva, certainly as far removed from Alec Stock as it was possible to be, stood patiently but ultimately sadly as his Fulham side from today's generation were decisively beaten by a Crystal Palace side still trying to shake off the trauma of a heavy FA Cup final defeat to Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United 35 years ago. For Crystal Palace this must have felt like the right time and place to exorcise the demons of their past and win the FA Cup this year. 

Palace of course enjoyed some of their greatest and most satisfying match days under both Terry Venables and Steve Coppell. Neither Venables or Coppell reached the promised land and Palace are still looking for their first trophy of any significance in any season. Palace have bounced up and down from the old Second Division and top flight rather like the kid on the trampoline completely without fear or trepidation. But now the Eagles have well and truly landed so to speak. 

After the well educated Roy Hodgson had taken Palace as far as he could, the general consensus was that the South Londoners would always be guaranteed joyous entertainment. But there was none of the stability that other clubs would take for granted. Palace would always be considered as one of those middle of the road London clubs who would never be strong enough or suitably equipped for bigger achievements.

Fulham, for their part, must have been convinced that 50 years is almost too long to decorate their trophy cabinet with at least something to show for their earnest endeavours. Football can be cruel and unforgiving, a game where the thin line between victory and defeat can be so fragile that it just can't be judged or measured accurately. This was not 1975  but rather a perfect opportunity to turn round their fortunes and Crystal Palace had to be theirs for the taking. But the Cottage, although privately expectant and vocal throughout, couldn't force themselves over the finishing line.

Palace were like greyhounds out of the trap, weathering the early Fulham onslaught with an effortless calm and nonchalance that was admirable. Fulham were moderately impressive but Palace surged into attack with a fluency and cohesion that the home side were helpless to repel. Fulham became increasingly ragged  and their disenchanted spectators knew exactly what to expect. Palace played metaphorically like royalty while Fulham looked like commoners who had forgotten their garden party engagement.

For Palace, the likes of the superbly commanding Marc Guehi, dependable full back partner Chris Richards and Tyrick Mitchell, solid as rock, Palace turned on the afterburners, thrusting forward at turbo charged pace and then landing powerful blows on Fulham's forehead. With Adam Wharton, Jefferson Lerma, Ismaila Sarr and the gloriously talented Ebereche Eze almost a force of nature, Palace's measured and more cultured approach to this FA Cup quarter final was too much to handle for Fulham. Jean Phillipe Mateta became the ultimate pain in the neck for Fulham, irritating and annoying their opponents repeatedly.  

Now Palace had all the right cards and were so pumped up for this match over their local rivals that nobody needed to remind them of where they were and knew what was expected of them. Their football was both delicious and delightful in equal doses, short, sharp, and simple passing movements that carved through the Fulham defence like a knife through butter. It wasn't long before Fulham's briefly functioning attack began to fizzle out like a damp firework. 

When Timothy Castagne, Calvin Bassey, Antonee Robinson, Joachim Andersen seemed to stagger and stumble on leaden feet for the home side, they reminded you of those daring souls who keep treading on hot coals and getting their feet burnt. Fulham looked awkward and ill at ease, at times leaden footed and emotionally overcome by the occasion itself. And they paid the penalty for their attacking ineptitude and little in the way of defiance. 

By the time Antonee Robinson, Sander Berge, Sasa Lukic and the ever tricky Alex Iwobi had exhausted their options, Fulham looked punch drunk, wobbling precariously around the pitch as if in a permanent daze. The home side had failed to turn up on the day and after another respectable season in the Premier League, Fulham were beginning to wonder whether it had been worth their while, a side now bereft of ideas and going nowhere. 

Palace of course inevitably took the lead because they had given every indication of doing so. Tyrick Mitchell, a sturdy and steadfast presence for Palace, sent a long, flighted ball with impeccable accuracy into the path of the stunning Ebereche Eze. Eze looks like he could become one of the most influential of all England players. There is just a hint of the Steve Coppell and Peter Barnes about Eze, a winger and midfielder  full of fleet footed trickery and sorcery that bodes well for Thomas Tuchel's England. 

Eze, picking up the ball, went on a breathless run at a now terrified home defence before dropping his shoulder, jinking, dinking and shimmying his body before cracking an unstoppable low shot that was placed neatly into the corner of the net. Palace were now carefree and cavalier and liaising splendidly with each other, their football now absolutely suited for a portrait gallery. 

Minutes before half time, Palace extended their lead and rubber stamped their authority on the day. Ismaila Sarr, never less than lively and enthrallingly energetic, headed home from another lovely cross from Eze. Fulham had no answer to the Palace cavalry charge, their immensely constructive football almost impossible to resist. And now with this match well and truly done and dusted, Palace rubbed the proverbial salt into Fulham's wound. 

Another former Arsenal forward Eddie Nketiah cut inside a now forlorn and over run Fulham and then drove the ball firmly into the Fulham net. Come the final whistle and Palace manager Oliver Glasner switched on a beaming smile. He stared up at his jubilant fans who looked as though they'd won the World Cup rather than the FA Cup quarter final. The Eagles will now be flying higher than ever. Maybe this is their year. There can be no telling but perhaps it could be. We shall see.