Pajtim Kasami strikes a goal of the season contender as Fulham record an emphatic win at Selhurst Park. Steve Sidwell and Dimitar Berbatov are also amongst the scorers as the Cottagers register back-to-back wins for the first time this term – there’s little cause for optimism for Ian Holloway’s side, as Arsenal prepare to roll up next weekend:

Berbatov Opens His Account
In a Gameweek that saw the likes of Kevin Mirallas and Eden Hazard finally hit their stride, the Bulgarian followed suit by notching his first of the season as the Cottagers crushed their hosts at Selhurst Park. Berbatov’s owners were buoyed by his move to the more advanced forward role in the previous Gameweek but he was deployed in “the hole” last night, with Martin Jol handing Darren Bent a chance to lead the line instead. Hauled off towards the end of the second-half after an insipid showing, Bent’s withdrawal bodes well for Berbatov’s chances of being moved further forward for the weekend trip to Southampton and with Bryan Ruiz also impressing thanks to a trio of assists, Bent could be back on the bench yet again as his toils at the Cottage continue

Cottagers Cut-Price Midfield Options
A stunning goal apiece from Steve Sidwell and Pajtim Kasami served a reminder of their cut-price potential in the Cottagers midfield. Coming in at 5.0 and 4.5 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL), the duo are pretty much nailed-on under Jol, with eight and seven starts respectively, and, while Berbatov and Ruiz have managed a single strike apiece, Sidwell and Kasami have now both found the net twice. Sidwell’s couple of bonus points took his tally to 33 points for the season – that’s just one less than Michu, the same as Hatem Ben Arfa and Paulinho, and one more than Kevin Nolan and David Silva, for example. Kasami’s wonder goal took him up to 26 points (Frank Lampard and Andros Townsend are on 27 apiece) and with his confidence sky-high, it’s fair to assume he won’t be losing that starting berth anytime soon.

Post-match, Jol was quick to praise Kasami’s contribution and talked up the winger’s potential:

“It was a fantastic Kasami goal, with his wrong foot. It was unbelievable because I haven’t seen him do it before. I think it’s probably better than people feel or think because he had to control the ball on his chest, then with his wrong foot in the other corner. It was a real good goal from a talented boy.”

Riether in the Points Again
Fulham’s top-scoring defender from the previous season delivered further returns last night by providing the assist for Kasami’s goal. In spite of his side’s stuttering start to the season, Riether – like Sidwell – has still managed to produce the goods; with two assists and three bonus points in the last three matches now, the 5.0 priced right-back is now up to 34 points for the campaign; one more than Branislav Ivanovic and on a par with the likes of Pablo Zabaleta, Jose Enrique and Luke Shaw. Similar to Sidwell, he has a mere 2% ownership and has proven to be a handy differential in recent weeks but with United and Liverpool to follow the St Mary’s trip, the short-term schedule is enough to deter most. Elsewhere at the back for Fulham, Brede Hangeland owners will be somewhat worried after he was withdrawn at half-time – having been subbed off at the break in the previous game, it remains to be seen whether Jol’s decision was down to injury or poor form, after an unconvincing display at the back.

Palace in Freefall
It’s five straight defeats now for Ian Holloway’s side in a run that has seen them concede at least twice in each of those matches. The Eagles boss seems no nearer to finding a settled side – his policy of ringing the changes from one game to the next is preventing Palace from finding any semblance of form; only two outfield players have been listed in the first XI for each of the first eight Gameweeks. Up next for the strugglers is a home clash with league leaders Arsenal and with Mesut Ozil, Aaron Ramsey and Olivier Giroud racking up the points at the weekend, the Gunners look heavy armband favourites heading into this one.

After the match, the under-fire Holloway explained his team selection:

“We went with the same team that finished quite strongly against Liverpool and we got ourselves in front. But the ruthlessness of this division and the skill of some of these players you saw in that first goal which was completely something else. A win will turn it right around and realise how close that we’ve been. To get ourselves in front, then we needed to be even more positive, but we’re putting crosses in and not getting enough bodies in the box. I can’t fault the effort, though, that was terrific. That quality comes out in the end and we’ve got to believe we’ve got it. We’ve got to work at it and pick ourselves up.”