Crystal Palace Match Preview
Prior to the 3-0 defeat to fierce rivals Tottenham Hotspur a week ago, West Ham United dropped into the bottom three and the result against Thomas Frank’s men meant that they would remain there ahead of today’s visit of Crystal Palace.
The Hammers’ fans will be hoping for a win in Stratford this afternoon but the trouble is that their team will come up against a side that is currently unbeaten in all competitions this season and Oliver Glasner will want to keep that run going.
On the other hand, Irons’ Head-Coach Graham Potter needs a result here and he may get it too, as his side have had a full week to prepare for this game, whereas the current Emirates FA Cup and Community Shield holders faced Sky Bet Championship side Millwall in the Carabao Cup four days ago and were taken to penalties, following a 1-1 draw. The hosts may also take solace from the fact that their opponents only managed a point in a home game against newly-promoted Sunderland in their last Premier League encounter.
You have to go back to the match against Leicester City on 27 February for the last time that a win was achieved here when a 2-0 success over then newly-promoted Leicester City pushed the Foxes closer to immediate relegation.
The Eagles had an awful start to last season, which included a 2-0 defeat to West Ham at Selhurst Park but once Glasner’s men got a run going, it was difficult to stop them. They certainly made up for that defeat in August by getting their own back and winning the corresponding fixture by the same scoreline to inflict Potter’s first league defeat in charge of the Hammers back on 18 January.
Coincidently, this will be the first 3pm kick-off in East London since the hosts were held to a very disappointing 1-1 draw with then newly-promoted club Southampton back on April 19.
Manuel Pellegrini was the last man to claim victory in this fixture back in December 2018 so the home side will be hoping that they can finally bring an end to that run and repeat last season’s triumph in the reverse fixture.
Soungoutou Magassa was introduced from the bench against Spurs and he may be set for a full debut here, as Tomáš Souček will begin a three-match suspension after the straight red card he received in the club’s second London derby of the season last weekend. However, if Potter does not select the French midfielder from the word go, then Andrew Irving will fill the void and earn a long-awaited first home start.
Callum Wilson will hope for a start after yet another substitute appearance, while Niclas Füllkrug has recovered from his small calf injury to be back in contention here. Brighton and Hove Albion loanee Igor Julio could also feature.
In his pre-match news conference ahead of this game on Thursday, the Hammers’ Head-Coach stated that Aaron Wan-Bissaka would not be available to face his former club due to his ongoing stomach issues.
A number of youngsters were included in the home side’s matchday squad for this fixture last season but one player that won’t be involved this afternoon is Regan Clayton, as he has signed for Vanarama National League outfit Braintree Town until his 21st birthday on 9 November.
As mentioned above, the match is a 3pm kick-off and the referee is Tony Harrington.