Twenty years of hurt - and counting
Here's a stat that should give every Fulham fan nightmares. Crystal Palace haven't lost at Craven Cottage in the league since 2005. That's TWENTY YEARS, people. Two decades of south London dominance in this fixture.
Four wins and three draws in that time. Fulham simply CANNOT beat Palace at home. It's like some sort of curse. And on Sunday afternoon, Oliver Glasner's boys roll into town looking to extend that incredible record.
Palace are sitting in 5th place with 23 points. They've conceded just 11 goals all season - only Arsenal have been stingier at the back. Seven clean sheets. A defence tighter than a drum. This is a side that knows exactly what it's doing.
Fulham's nine-goal MADNESS against City
Now, Fulham's week has been absolutely BONKERS. On Tuesday, they went 5-1 down at home to Manchester City. Most teams would have rolled over and died. Not Marco Silva's lads.
They staged an incredible comeback, scoring THREE late goals to make it 5-4. Samuel Chukwueze bagged a brace and suddenly the Cottage was rocking. But it still wasn't enough. They lost. Again.
That's the story of Fulham's season in a nutshell. Plenty of entertainment, not enough points. They're down in 15th with just 17 points. And their only home defeats this season? Arsenal and Manchester City. Two of the best teams in the land.
Can Palace do what Arsenal and City did? Absolutely they can.
Chukwueze is ON FIRE - but will it matter?
Let's talk about Samuel Chukwueze for a second. The Nigerian winger is averaging a goal or assist every 46 MINUTES this season. That's the best record in the entire Premier League. He's been absolutely electric off the bench.
Against Palace's rock-solid defence though? That's a different challenge. Jean-Philippe Mateta leads the line for the Eagles with seven goals, and Daniel Munoz has been popping up with crucial strikes too - including the winner at Burnley last time out.
Palace don't need to score many. They just need to score one more than you. And with Fulham shipping 22 goals already this season, the Eagles will fancy their chances.
Top four is CALLING for Palace
A win on Sunday and Palace could climb into the top four. Let that sink in. Crystal Palace, competing with the big boys for Champions League spots. Oliver Glasner has worked absolute MIRACLES at Selhurst Park.
The German knows how to set up a team defensively. He knows how to grind out results. And he knows that Craven Cottage holds no fear for his players - not with that incredible historical record.
Fulham will huff and puff. They'll create chances - they always do. But can they actually break down the meanest defence outside of Arsenal? I'm not convinced.
Prediction: Palace extend the curse
This has 1-0 Palace written all over it. A scrappy goal, probably from a set piece, and then the Eagles shut up shop like they always do.
Fulham will dominate possession. They'll have more shots. They'll wonder how on earth they didn't score. And then they'll trudge off at full-time, still searching for that elusive home win against their London rivals.
Twenty years and counting. Sorry Fulham fans - I don't see that changing on Sunday.
Crystal Palace 1-0 Fulham. The curse continues.
