Report & Highlights: Palace hit back to stun Fulham for first win of 26/27

Twice the Eagles fell behind at Craven Cottage, only for Mitchell to twice drag them level in an end-to-end encounter.

Mitchell’s replacement Chilwell then scored with his first touch since re-joining the club earlier this week, sparking pandemonium in the away end before the Eagles held on for a magnificent victory.

Summary;

• 4: First chance for Fulham as Castagne's effort flies just wide
• 11 - goal: The hosts take the lead as King's effort deflects off Canvot and beyond Henderson
• 13: Kamada has the ball in the net and Palace look to have levelled, only for VAR to rule the Japan international offside by a fraction.
• 20: Khalaili's effort flies narrowly wide of Leno's post.
• 24: Khalaili makes two back-to-back blocks as Palace survive a dangerous attack.
• 33: Henderson makes a huge save from Castagne.
• 35 - GOAL: Mitchell levels with a brilliant strike from a tight angle.
• 38: Robinson bends an effort just wide.
• 43 - goal: Palacios puts Fulham back infront after Henderson's save from Garcia falls kindly
• HT: Fulham 2-1 Palace
• 54 - GOAL: Mitchell gets another to level the game for a second time.
• 77 - GOAL: substitute Chilwell scores with his first touch to put Palace in front for the first time!
• 86: Muniz blazes over from close range.
• FT: Fulham 2-3 Palace

Sage brought in new signing Quinten Timber and defender Axel Disasi into his starting XI, with Eddie Nketiah – who had scored on both previous visits to this ground – leading the attack.

Hosts Fulham had the first sight of goal when Timothy Castagne’s effort flew just wide of Dean Henderson’s post. That seemd to set the tone for an open and entertaining Premier League game.

With their very next effort, the hosts had the lead in fortuitous circumstances. The Palace ‘keeper was wrong-sighted as Josh King’s shot deflected in off Jaydee Canvot – Henderson left with no chance.

The Eagles looked to have levelled within two minutes. Yéremy Pino looked to have created a second goal in as many games, when his outside-of-the-boot cross picked out Daichi Kamada to convert at the back post.

Sadly, VAR was to intervene. The technology deemed Kamada to be just in front of Antonee Robinson, although it was impossible to tell with the naked eye.

The Eagles continued to play on the front foot. For the second game on the bounce Anan Khalaili was showing his ability going forward, curling an effort narrowly wide of Leno’s post.

He was then called into action at the other end, making two vital blocks following a goalmouth scramble, following more trickery from King.

Henderson was then called into action just after the half hour mark, making a big save to keep it at 1-0.

Oscar Bobb cut the ball from the right into the path of Castagne, but he could only admire the excellent reactions from the Palace No. 1, who stuck up a hand to keep out the first-time effort.

Only a few minutes later the Eagles were level and this time there was no chance of VAR intervening. Tyrick Mitchell broke clear down the left wing from Eddie Nketiah’s pass and – after holding off former Eagle Joachim Anderson – drove a stunning shot in at the near post.

It was Mitchell’s first in the Premier League since his winner at West Ham nearly a year ago and once again he showed that although he may not score on a regular basis, when he does they are often spectacular.

But it was Fulham who managed to get themselves ahead before half-time.

Josh King broke clear down the hosts’ left-wing, before cutting the ball back into a dangerous area. Henderson again reacted superbly to keep out an initial effort from Gonzalo Garcia.

However, the penalty-box luck again was in Fulham’s favour, the ball running kindly for César Palacios to find the net.

Sage introduced Jørgen Strand Larsen at the break, replacing Eddie Nketiah, with the first goalmouth action of the second-half seeing Timber make a vital block to deny Alex Iwobi a sight of goal.

Yet it was that man Mitchell who would get the all-important fourth goal of the afternoon.

After his initial effort was blocked by a Fulham shirt, the ball pinballed around the penalty area, eventually coming back to the Palace wing-back.

His contact with the ball wasn’t the cleanest, but he diverted it sufficiently that – with Leno wrong-footed – the ball ended up in the net.

In the space of just under 20 minutes Mitchell had doubled his Premier League goal tally from last season and, crucially, Palace were back level.

From that point it felt like either side could grab a winner, with Henderson and Mitchell forced into further last gasp blocks to keep the hosts at bay.

Sage then introduced Ben Chilwell and Will Hughes from the bench for Mitchell and Timber, and it was the former who made a dramatic impact only minutes after coming on.

With his first touch the left wing-back volleyed a loose ball home, after Leno came out of his goal to collide with Khalaili. Bedlam followed in the Putney End behind the goal, while Sage remained a picture of calm on the touchline as his team closed in on the win.

The remaining minutes naturally saw Fulham throw everything forward, with the best chance falling to Rodrigo Muniz, who could only blaze over.

In the end Palace could celebrate their first three points win of 2026/27, a fourth straight win on this ground, with all three goals coming from left wing-backs – remarkable.

The Eagles return to action in just three days when Middlesbrough visit in the Carabao Cup (Tuesday, 19:45 BST).

Palace: Henderson (GK), Canvot, Richards, Disasi, Khalaili, Timber (Hughes, 74), Wharton, Mitchell (Chilwell, 74), Pino (Osorio, 89) Kamada (Mingueza, 89), Nketiah (Strand Larsen, 46).

Subs: Benítez (GK), Tomiyasu, Doucouré, Gozo.

Fulham: Leno (GK), Robinson (Sessegnon, 79), Bassey, Andersen, Castagne, Iwobi (Muniz, 83), Charles (Smith Rowe, 79), Palacios (Berge, 62), King, Bobb (Larsson, 79), Garcia.

Subs: Lecomte (GK), Angel, Affengruber, Kevin.