Ally McCoist slams Fulham star but praises 'stunning' Crystal Palace man for first half FA Cup performances

Scottish football legend Ally McCoist heaped praise on one ‘stunning’ Crystal Palace player but had criticism for a Fulham midfielder in the first half of the FA Cup quarter final fixture at Craven Cottage.

Eberechi Eze opened the scoring for the visitors after 34 minutes with a stunning strike from outside the box. The 26-year-old scored for England during the international break and is enjoying a week to remember.

Reacting to the goal on ITV commentary, McCoist said: “Early kick-off or not, I’m not sure you see a better goal today. Mitchell takes a lovely touch on the left hand side, cushions it and just plays it inside to him and you can see exactly what he wants to do. He drops his shoulder to go left, back onto his right foot, the finish is sublime.

Eberechi Eze scores ‘stunning goal’ for Crystal Palace

“It starts maybe a foot outside the post and curls all the way into Bernd Leno’s goal. It’s an absolutely stunning goal! In off the post, goalkeeper no chance, it’s all about the strike of the ball. He drops his shoulder, his left hand side, to come back on the right and that gets him the wee half yard. He’s absolutely thrilled and so he should be.

“It was some goal wasn’t it? I said two minutes ago, the manager would like to see him on the ball more because that it was he’s capable of.”

Just four minutes later, Oliver Glasner’s side found a second through Ismalia Sarr. That goal was set up by the lively Eze, who broke away past Sander Berge on the left flank.

Sander Berge criticised after Ismalia Sarr goal

McCoist said: “I might be critical here of Berge but he’s got to close him down earlier. We see the pass to Eze here, Berge has got to get out to him. He’s got to get out to him quicker, he can’t allow him to come in like that. Sarr makes a brilliant run, he’s not picked up in the centre of the pitch but he makes a great run to the front post area and comes in front of [Calvin] Bassey.

“It’s a lovely ball. Maybe I’m slightly over critical of Berger but he’s got to get him in a wide area and force him back. He allows him to come inside to make the cross. That said, brilliant run from Sarr and a wonderful headed goal.”

Fulham could reach a first FA Cup semi-final in 23 years this weekend. For the Eagles, it’s the chance to make it to Wembley Stadium three years after their last taste of the semis.

The Cottagers are four places and six points ahead of Crystal Palace in the Premier League but Glasner’s side have become somewhat of a bogey opposition for Marco Silva in recent years. The Austrian has won and drawn his two trips to Craven Cottage, a 2-0 triumph the most recent result last month.

In other news, Mick Brown sent Crystal Palace a £25m transfer blow day before huge Fulham clash.