Crystal Palace are into the hat for the quarter finals of the Carabao Cup after a 1-0 win at Craven Cottage against Fulham. 

Pierre Sage’s side defended resolutely throughout the first half and rode a wave of Fulham pressure, opening the scoring through Eddie Nketiah in the 37th minute. 

Despite the hosts dominating the ball, finishing the game with seventy-six percent of the possession, Palace looked to be in control throughout the entirety of the second half. 

Not only was it a big win for the side, but a massive result for Pierre Sage, and one which should alleviate some of the pressure on the Frenchman’s shoulders. But what were the key takeaways from the game?

Whilst they rode their luck at times in the first half, the defending from open play was much improved from Palace. From set pieces, they struggled to contain Fulham, who probably should have found the net at least once.

In the previous two games, Palace conceded four goals from four shots on target. Against Fulham, Dean Henderson faced four shots on target, but kept a clean sheet, just Palace’s fourth of the season in all competitions. 

One of the biggest improvements for Palace was the application and fight from the players. Despite starting a heavily rotated side, and Fulham going with a strong lineup, Palace competed really well throughout the game. 

Palace won 50% of their duels, and there was a noticeable difference in terms of the aggression the players tackled with. 

The organisation of the backline was also stronger, aside from when defending set pieces. Henderson’s presence was a huge boost, and evidently made an impact on the side. Lerma and Richards both played well too, and whilst Ahanor made a handful of errors, the compactness of the side meant they were swiftly resolved. 

Palace have failed to be consistent in front of goal this season, but when Nketiah stroked home what turned out to be the winner, it was only Palace’s first shot and one of their first touches in the box too, demonstrating a clinical edge not seen in the side so far this campaign. 

Whilst Palace had to ride their luck in the first half at times and struggled to get into Fulham's half for the opening 30 minutes or so, they held out well until taking the lead. 

There was a lac of synergy between the players which was understandable considering the number of changes, and the play in possession was very inconsistent, but the improvement in the second half was noticeable. 

The second half performance demonstrated control and composure. Sage made the right substitutions at the right times, and when the quality came onto the pitch for Palace, their grip on the game only got tighter. 

By full time, Palace could have been a goal or two better off, but aside from a couple of pinball chances inside the box, Fulham didn’t do nearly enough to earn an equaliser. 

There was a really touching moment at full time where Pierre Sage walked over to applaud the travelling support and looked genuinely emotional with the reaction he received. It can’t have been an easy few weeks for the Palace boss, coming under intense scrutiny and numerous rumours circulating regarding his job security. 

Those reports suggested it was the game against Spurs this weekend that would be the deciding factor, but after this win, he should keep the job regardless. 

The players are clearly still playing for this coach, and haven’t shown any signs of not doing so. The spirit the team showed to defend the lead, and fight for every loose ball - that’s just not something you get when the players don’t believe in you as a manager. 

Palace’s away support was excellent all game long, outsinging the home fans throughout, and consistently chanting for the manager, making their thoughts clear. 

Sage is the right man to lead the club forward, and should be given the time and consideration to do so. 

The likes of Will Hughes and Jefferson Lerma have not featured as much as they may have in recent seasons, so it was good to see both get a proper run out in this cup tie. Lerma shored things up in the backline, and made a significant contribution to earn the clean sheet. 

His leadership and experience could play a vital role for Palace this season, as he is able to support the youth of Canvot and Ahanor and guide them through games. Hughes was also a great addition to the side, and added a level of calm and composure to a midfield which has been slightly erratic at times this season. 

Palace were far more solid in the middle of the pitch, and there was plenty of cover when Fulham countered, Hughes often collecting the ball inside the Palace box. 

Darío Osorio was also strong, and caused issues for Fulham all evening on only his second start for the club. 

Eddie Nketiah took his chance starting up front, scoring excellently to win the game for Palace. 

Overall, it was a wholly positive night for the club, who can now go into the weekend with fresher minds as they look to get back to winning ways in the Premier League.