‘Huge credit to him’ – Oliver Glasner names unsung hero as Crystal Palace Man of the Match in Fulham win

Oliver Glasner heaped praise on one of Crystal Palace’s most experienced players after their impressive away victory over Fulham on Sunday afternoon.

The Eagles climbed into fourth place in the table thanks to goals from Eddie Nketiah and Marc Guehi, either side of a superb Harry Wilson strike.

Guehi’s late winner, which arrived just three minutes from time, sealed a vital three points and saw Palace leapfrog Chelsea into the Champions League places.

While the goalscorers grabbed the headlines, it was 34-year-old Nathaniel Clyne who most impressed the Palace boss. Drafted in to replace the usually dependable Daniel Muñoz, Clyne delivered a standout performance despite a long spell out of the starting line-up.

“For me, the man of the match was Nathaniel Clyne,” Glasner told Palace TV. “He hasn’t started for months. When I found out yesterday that Dani couldn’t play, I told him he would start. To perform like that at 34, without much match rhythm or full team training, is outstanding.

“He’s been training mostly in small groups, so to put in a performance like that is massive credit to him. It shows what a top player he is, and also what a great person he is.”

Reflecting on the overall result, Glasner admitted it was a hard-fought contest but felt his side grew stronger as the game went on.

“It’s a fantastic win here. It was tight, and yes, we were fortunate when their goal was ruled out. But as the match progressed, I felt more and more that we were going to win it. We played with purpose, created some good attacking moments and chances, and eventually the winner came from a set-piece.

“Huge credit to the players, and a big thank you to our fans who supported us right until the end. We kept pushing, and in the end, I think we deserved the win.”

Glasner also highlighted the team’s belief and mentality as key to their success.

“For me, it’s about how we play, the commitment, and always believing we can win. That’s the most important thing. You can lose one game and drop several places in the table. Of course, being nearer the top makes life a little easier, but we’re enjoying this moment. This is how we must continue if we want to be successful until the end of the season.”

Fulham manager Marco Silva, however, felt his side had the upper hand for long periods despite the defeat.

“We knew we had to be patient, but at the same time move the ball quicker,” Silva said. “At times our build-up was a little too slow, especially at the back.

“Even so, I think we were the more dominant team overall. Dominance doesn’t always translate into chances, but I believe we did create enough during the game.”