Crystal Palace managed a 1-1 draw against Fulham at Selhurst Park, but manager Oliver Glasner admitted his team is in 'survival mode' due to fatigue and a packed schedule. Jean-Philippe Mateta scored for the hosts, only for Tom Cairney to equalize from the bench. The result leaves Palace winless in six games across all competitions.
The Premier League match at Selhurst Park on January 1, 2026, ended in a 1-1 stalemate between Crystal Palace and Fulham. Palace, sitting 11th in the table, took the lead through a trademark header by striker Jean-Philippe Mateta. However, Fulham improved after halftime and leveled when substitute Tom Cairney bent a superb shot into the net from the edge of the area. Full-back Timothy Castagne nearly won it for the visitors in stoppage time, but goalkeeper Dean Henderson made a brilliant save.
Palace have now gone six games without a win in all competitions and five without victory at home in the Premier League. They sit just above ninth-placed Fulham on goal difference, despite having played eight more matches this season. Manager Oliver Glasner highlighted the toll of their 31 games in all competitions, saying his side looked tired in the closing stages. 'We are a little bit in survival mode,' Glasner stated. 'We have to accept that. We have never played a team with less rest than us. Even Fulham had one day more.' He emphasized the physical differences ahead of their next game against Newcastle, where Palace will have two days' rest compared to the opponents' four.
Glasner called for reinforcements, noting the club is close to signing Tottenham forward Brennan Johnson to bolster their attacking options. Fulham manager Marco Silva expressed frustration over an incident where defender Jorge Cuenca was forced off temporarily due to an apparent head injury, leaving his side with 10 men when Mateta scored. 'We should not have been playing with 10 men,' Silva said. 'The referees, with the experience they have, should be able to manage the game in a different way.'
Despite the draw, Palace remain in the top half of the table, though transfer speculation surrounds captain Marc Guehi and Glasner himself amid links to Chelsea.
