Fulham controlled much of the contest but could not turn their possession into goals, while Palace defended their advantage after Nketiah struck in the first half. The result gave manager Pierre Sage a welcome victory, but Fulham boss Álvaro Arbeloa was left frustrated by his team’s failure to make their superiority count.
“Same history, another day,” Arbeloa said after the defeat.
“I think they were waiting for a mistake. They took their chance, and I think we can do better. Even when we have the possession, we have to move the ball quicker against a very low-block team, and we need to make more runs, and do it better in the last pass.”
Fulham had opportunities to take the lead before Nketiah’s decisive intervention. Palace then made the most of their chance, with Oscar Mingueza delivering from the right for the forward to finish in the 37th minute.
The Fulham manager said his players needed to be more effective when facing opponents who defend deep and look to exploit errors.
“I think we need to create more chances in the wide areas. We need to be more patient, and we need to understand how you have to attack a team like Crystal Palace,” he said.
“They were defending well and defending their space but, similar to other games, I think we need to learn that we will face many teams in this league that are waiting for your mistake, and you need to be clever and to be patient.”
Arbeloa also pointed to the importance of managing transitions and maintaining discipline when Fulham commit players forward.
“We won the last two games because we didn’t concede chances, we didn’t concede goals, and the other day [against Coventry] we were waiting 80 minutes until we had our chance, and for me this is what we have to do,” he said.
“And it’s a really frustrating night for everyone, for me as a manager, because I know how important this game is for the Club, for the supporters, and the most important thing for tonight is that we need to learn as quick as we can.”
Crystal Palace’s manager acknowledged that his side had struggled during the opening period before making tactical adjustments at half-time.
“It was important because to win games, to succeed – a small success, but to succeed – it’s always important for the team, for the guys who work a lot, to have sometimes the income of what they do,” Sage said.
“This evening, they gave a lot, and I think they have the little ‘trophy’ they deserved. But we played against a good team too. It was really difficult, especially in the first-half. We struggled on our left side because they combined it really well, and we changed some things, tactical things, during half-time.”
Sage was also pleased with the contribution of players who had received limited minutes this season, having made 10 changes to his starting team. Cheick Doucouré made his first competitive start since January 2025, while captain Dean Henderson returned and produced an important late save to deny Gonzalo García.
“For me, it’s the most beautiful thing of the day,” Sage said of Doucouré’s return. “He’s really, really a kind guy, has suffered a lot, waited a lot, fought a lot to come back… and he had the pleasure to be on the pitch and to play football.”
Sage added that Henderson remained an important figure for the team, while also praising deputy goalkeeper Walter Benítez for his work earlier in the campaign.
The Palace manager said the connection between the players and supporters was improving as the team showed greater commitment on the pitch.
“It’s not only about the result. It’s about what kind of team we are and what kind of play we are able to do,” he said.
“We struggled a lot in the play, because they had the initiative, but we defended the small things. That was the way to win today. It’s not the ideal way. But sometimes it’s good to win – and I’m happy for them too.”