Cyrus Christie is the latest Fulham player to be on the end of Claudio Ranieri's acid tongue after the defender gave away a soft first-half penalty in this afternoon's 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace.
Having spent the best part of the last month and a half, lashing into the admittedly abrasive Aboubakar Kamara, Ranieri left no one in any doubt who the new 'naughty boy' was in the Fulham camp after Irish defender Christie inexplicably handballed in his own area when trying to clear a poor Palace cross.
Perhaps thrown by the presence of the burly Christian Benteke, the full back leveraged his left hand on the back of the big Belgian's right shoulder with the ball making full contact with his fist. Either way, the Fulham fans were not too happy with the 26-year-old.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, a visibly frustrated Ranieri bemoaned his side's luck, having had the best of the chances before Luca Milvojevic put the home side ahead from the spot.
You lost the plot mate, why is Cyrus Christie allowed to start premier league games
— (𝙲)𝚑𝚛𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚊𝚗𝚎 (@urghbusani) February 2, 2019
Cyrus Christie and Timothy Fosu-Mensah are stealing a living in the Premier League. Two of the most inept full-backs I’ve ever had the displeasure of watching. How was a right-back not a priority in the January transfer window? #ffc
— Cam Ramsey (@94CAMRAM) February 2, 2019
It's very crazy (Christie's handball). Stupid foul. But it's football. Something happens.
Debutant Michy Batshuayi's curling effort was denied by a fine Sergio Rico save, only for Jeffery Schlupp to follow up with a header to wrap things up for the home side in injury-time.
The result leaves Fulham deep in the relegation mire after fellow strugglers Cardiff gained an impressive 2-0 win over Bournemouth at an emotionally charged Cardiff City Stadium, where the home side paid a tear-jerking tribute to missing teammate Emiliano Sala.
In another relegation 'six-pointer', 16th place Southampton were denied a victory at 17th placed Burnley when Ashley Barnes converted a 94th-minute penalty.
Fulham will welcome on fire Manchester United to Craven Cottage next Saturday, now seven points from safety, with things quickly becoming critical for Claudio, Cyrus and co.
