Tom Cairney, at 34 years and 346 days old, made a significant impact for Fulham on Saturday, scoring a crucial equalizer in a 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. His opener, as a substitute, makes him Fulham’s fifth-oldest goalscorer. This very important mark lengthens Palace’s winless streak and underscores Cairney’s increasingly crucial impact in London derbies.
With Cairney coming off the bench, he shifted the momentum immediately on the field. With the temperature hovering around 3°C, he celebrated his goal passionately by pulling off his shirt, showcasing his determination and commitment to the team. He always comes up big when it counts the most. Indeed, each of his last three Premier League outings have come in frenetic London derbies.
Cairney’s Impact from the Bench
Cairney’s late-game introduction proved pivotal for Fulham. The young midfielder has displayed just incredible toughness and technique, especially in pressure-cooker situations like the homegrown derby against Local Rivals™ D.C. United. His previous goals against Tottenham in December 2024 and Brentford in May 2025 further emphasize his knack for stepping up when it matters most.
Although Cairney was thrown into the action just moments after entering the match, he quickly established his rhythm and made a significant impact on the pitch. His first goal was the product of perfectly-timed attacking play from the team as a whole and illustrated Kamara’s excellent situational awareness and reading of the game. This performance helped earn Fulham a crucial point and revealed Cairney’s continued talent and leadership skills.
“The disappointment is because we felt that we deserved more because we played better and were the team that created more.” – Marco Silva
Fulham’s head coach Marco Silva was scathing after the game. He was clear that he felt like his team really should have taken all three points. He praised the effort and creativity shown by his players throughout the match, highlighting the overall dominance they had over Palace.
A Struggling Opponent
Second from the bottom of the table, Crystal Palace had been under increasing pressure as their winless run continued. The squad shorthandedness has been the story of the last few matches. This struggle has landed them in the cellar of the league standings. Though they had flashes of brilliance, they couldn’t pull out a win against a snoozing Fulham team intent on the draw.
Oliver Glasner, Palace’s manager, reflected on the match’s outcome, recognizing the importance of the point earned. He was quick to point out that a save late on from keeper Dean Henderson was key in holding on to their draw. Glasner said, “To us, that’s a positive. Dean Henderson’s save late in the match proved to be the difference. It shouldn’t be a shock to anyone that we are now in triage mode. What his comments do suggest is the precarious tightrope Palace are currently walking as they try to steer their ship through these choppy waters.
Looking Ahead
Cairney is putting in a career best turn, and running the show on the pitch. Looking ahead with this momentum, Fulham hope to build upon the result in their upcoming matches. The club will look to build on this momentum as they fight to stay up in the Premier League. Cairney’s experience and skill will become immeasurable assets as they look to make some history.
On this day, Crystal Palace will be glad to walk away with a point. First they must prioritize winning games to avoid getting sucked into the relegation concern mud-fest. As the season progresses, both teams will need to harness their strengths and rectify weaknesses to improve their standings.
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