BEN CHILWELL announced his return to English football with the goal that earned his new manager his first Premier League win.
The former Chelsea left back had only been on for three minutes when he slammed home the winner as Palace mounted a dogged comeback fight in the battle of the rookie bosses.
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New Palace chief Pierre Sage swooped for Chilwell on transfer deadline day in a cut-price £8.6 million move from French side Strasbourg.
Within four days it already looks a bargain as the experienced defender struck with his first touch of the ball after coming on as a 74th minute sub.
He replaced Tyrick Mitchell who had already pulled Palace back from behind twice as the Eagles’ left backs stole the show.
England head coach Thomas Tuchel was watching from the stands at Craven Cottage having come to watch other players on display but the left- back berth has been a bit of an issue for the national team.
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Mitchell and Chilwell have both played for England and while there is no chance either would be called up for this month’s Nations League fixtures, Tuchel may well have headed for home with a few surprise dilemmas on his mind.
He had come to run the rule over Palace midfielder Adam Wharton and Fulham star Josh King.
On a dismal day for Fulham and their new manager Alvaro Arbeloa at least their star performer showed a touch of class.
He scored from the right wing to put Fulham ahead in the 11th minute, then set one up from the left flank three minutes from half time.
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King, 19, was handed a dream start to the summer, being invited to train with England’s World Cup squad prior to the tournament.
While his Fulham team-mates are struggling to get to grips with the new season he at least looks raring to go as the outstanding performer on the pitch from start to finish.
With Nations League games coming up against Spain, Croatia and the Czech Republic, King looks ready to finally kick a ball in anger for his country.
But one virtuoso performance was never going to be enough to ward off hefty booing from the Fulham fans at the final whistle.
Chants of ‘What the f*****g hell was that?’ greeted the end of a game where Fulham had their first victory of the campaign in one hand only to blow it.
They remain without a point and with former Real Madrid boss Arbeloa under mounting pressure already.
Chilly, who spent six months on loan at Palace last year, grabbed the winning goal 13 minutes from the end and ensured a frosty send off for Fulham’s manager and the players as they trudged off after a particularly demoralising defeat.
King’s goal was deflected in off Palace defender Jaydee Canvot, and new boy Cesar Palacios got off the mark three minutes before half- ti.me
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But it was at the back where Fulham suffered. Mitchell beat Fulham keeper Bernd Leno at his near post to make it 2-1 and somehow squeezed a comical goal over the line in the 54th minute when fellow new arrival Gonzalo Garcia air- kicked his clearance off the line.
Chilwell thumped home the decisive strike after more clumsy work at the back for Fulham with Joachim Andersen miscueing another clearance.