Palace send Fulham out of Carabao Cuo

Fulham’s hopes of reaching the Carabao Cup quarter finals ended in frustration with a 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace at Craven Cottage.

A first half goal by Eagles’ striker Eddie Nketiah was sufficient for Pierre Sage’s outfit on a night where the Whites promised much but delivered very little in the final third.

Having witnessed his side dominate the vast majority of the game, it is a real opportunity missed for boss Alvaro Arbeloa, with Fulham having already accounted for AFC Wimbledon and West Ham United in previous rounds of the tournament.

Arbeloa’s team – who had won their last two Premier League games – controlled the bulk of a tense tie, with Kenny Tete and Antonee Robinson both going close to opening the scoring early on. Yet Fulham could not construct sufficient openings thereafter, especially in the second half.
Palace, who had hitherto failed to threaten the hosts’ goal, opened the scoring against the run of play in the 37th minute.

Nketiah guided the ball first time over Fulham keeper Benjamin Lecombe from a right sided cross by Oscar Mingueza, who had initially dispossessed Whites’ defender Calvin Bassey.

Fulham had the majority of possession as they attempted to recover the deficit at the start of the second period, but they lacked both intelligence and conviction, while the Eagles defended stoutly.

Hard working Palace’s ability to soak up labouring Fulham’s efforts ultimately prevailed – and the home fans made their disappointment clear at full time with the opportunity for a good cup run missed.

The Whites need to recover quickly and are next in action on Saturday when they travel to face Aston Villa in the Premier League.

Fulham: Lecomte, Robinson, Bassey, Andersen, Tete (Castagne 58), Larsson (Cairney 58), Berge, Iwobi (Garcia 72), Bobb (Kevin 81), Muniz, Palacios (King 58)
Subs not used: Cuenca, Leno (GK), Angel, Reed