Crystal Palace 0 : 0 Fulham

Crystal Palace had a long injury list entering their home fixture with Fulham, and by the evidence of this anodyne performance, those missing cannot return quickly enough.

Hosting a side in the relegation zone, they failed to register a single shot on target.

Their defence held up well but the lack of guile and creativity outside the back five suggests that Roy Hodgson’s side will have to rely on Eagles’ fans legendary loyalty, rather than entertainment value, to lure the crowds back to Selhurst Park after lockdown.

However their points haul seems to be enough to ensure their survival but there are legitimate concerns for Fulham fans over how many games they require to secure the much needed wins rather than draws to overhaul the three point gap that separates them from Newcastle and Brighton.

There are few defensive problems. This was their fourth clean sheet in five games.

At the other end however, their abysmal finishing cost them dearly. Of their 16 shots, only four were on target. Two were straight at Palace ‘keeper Vicente Guaita and another blocked.

The only chance close to procuring a goal fell to Josh Maja whose second half header was miraculously saved by Guaita in the game’s only highlight.

See highlights here

Ivan Cavaleiro, who had been dropped to the bench, produced an inch perfect cross from Fulham’s right and Maja timed his leap perfectly.

The ball seemed set to be the lone serious goalbound effort of a drab game until the pink clad Spaniard appeared from nowhere to claw the ball away.

The save kept Palace’s parity and resigned Fulham to their 11th draw of the season, more than anyone except Brighton. A win would have reduced the gap between themselves and safety to one point but it remains at three.

Fulham are running out of winnable games with trips to Anfield, the Emirates, Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge among their 12 remaining games, not to mention a home game with the untouchable Manchester City.

Of course, having recorded wins at Everton and Leicester, they might argue that road trips hold less fears than home games. After all, the only sides Scott Parker’s men have beaten at home are the two below them, West Brom and Sheffield United.

Their next challenge is Spurs at home on March 4. The ‘other’ Lilywhites are back on form after hammering four past hapless Burnley on Sunday.

Time is running out for Fulham to make that giant leap to bridge that three point gap and one can only wonder why they didn’t try and sign a striker earlier in the campaign.

After all, there’s one who’s leapt to the top of the scoring charts and you guessed it.

His name’s Armstrong!

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