Crystal Palace vs West Ham 22/23

Hi everyone,

Hope you’re all well.

On Saturday 29th April 2023, Crystal Palace hosted London rivals West Ham at Selhurst Park. It was the first early kick off of the season and the sun was shining as we head towards summer!

Both teams came into the game in the relegation battle with West Ham worst off sitting 15th with 34 points. Their most recent game was a 2-1 loss at home to Liverpool but before this battered Bournemouth 4-0 away from home, they also took points off title chasers Arsenal a few game weeks back in a 2-2 draw.

Crystal Palace had their good form disrupted in the 0-0 to Everton and ended midweek as they lost 2-0 away to Wolverhampton, it was a poor performance all round, but Hodgson did make numerous changes rotating the whole midfield and ultimately disrupting the momentum.

Following the loss Roy Hodgson resulted back to his original line up that faced Everton besides, one seeing Wilfried Zaha return from injury to replace Edouard. The changes from midweek saw Chris Richards, Luka Milivojevic, Albert Sambi Lokonga and Will Hughes drop to the bench to be replaced by Joel Ward, Jeffery Schlupp, and Cheick Doucoure.

After conceding first Crystal Palace came from behind to beat West Ham in a seven-goal thriller!

In a sunny day in South London Palace had a dominate start to the game but it was the visitors who put themselves ahead first, with just 10 minutes played Tomas Soucek netted from close range. Michael Olise’s failed clearance from a Jarrod Bowen corner went straight into the path of the West Ham midfielder to get his team off to a dream start.

Almost immediately Palace found a back into the game through Olise, but this time he was assisting at the correct end! An excellent move from the French winger playing a clever ball down the wing for Jordan Ayew who could finish the move with a low driven shot at the near post.

With the sound of Selhurst park behind them it only took nine minutes for the home team to be ahead. A long ball up field from Joachim Andersen began a great piece of play between Ayew and Olise. The latter whipped the ball across the box, Ayew’s flick on met the path of Wilfried Zaha who got a simple back post finish into the far netting on his return to the team.

From long range Soucek saw space for a shot with confidence from his previous shot went for goal himself, but his effort was a simple save for Sam Johnstone with an angry Jarrod Bowen arguably in a better position. The momentum was fully with the Eagles, the defenders prevented any real threat from the visitors from East London.

The momentum was fully with Palace as they were hungry for more goals. A heavy touch from Soucek allowed Jeffery Schlupp to slip in and steal the ball from his path, driving towards goal the midfielders’ hard work was rewarded by yet another goal for the hosts calmly sliding the ball through the keepers legs!

The game was very open with end to end play, but Palace just had a sense of urgency around their attacking box, and it showed in the three goals scored in just 30 minutes. Schlupp had the chance to double his tally, but his long shot went straight over the bar.

The action was nonstop this time it was West Ham pulling a goal back. Soucek posed danger once again from another corner, he turned scorer to prover flicking the ball onto Michail Antonio who was completely unmarked and headed it in at the back post making it 3-2.

Palace were finally able to slow down and control the game until half time, more link up play down the right wing and Zaha made the net ripple blazing his shot into the side netting.

The second half did not disappoint with Olise setting the energy forcing an early good save from Lukasz Fabianski.

The link up play from the home side was fantastic with Zaha, Ayew and Eze playing around the West Ham defence, the English midfielder was dragged back by Nayef Aguerd, the referee pointed to the spot and following conformation from VAR a penalty was awarded. Palace’s number 10 with composure sent the keeper the wrong way making it 4-2.

Despite Selhurst park rocking, the two-goal lead did not last, and from yet another corner the visitors were given a way back into the game. Once again Soucek won the first header at the front post, the floating ball was met by Aguerd to put over the line. Palace’s weaknesses in defence were made clear this game with corners being a real threat.

With 18 minutes left on the clock the nerves around the stadium increased, Palace did manage to hold onto their lead seeing the three points over the line with real professionalism. The three points saw palace move up the table to 11th after reaching the safety point of 40 points! West Ham however, still have a lot to play for sitting in 15th with 34 points.

WHAT. A. GAME! There wasn’t much time to actually breathe with constant attacks happening. A great performance from Palace especially after going behind but we can’t ignore the fact they conceded three goals all from corners – the defending was appalling and an area for immediate improvement. We have reached the safety net of 40 points so can finally relax a little knowing were not involved in the relegation battle, but they should use the momentum of the game and look to move up the table as much as possible!

Palace’s next game is away to Tottenham next Saturday, it’ll be a tough battle but if they show the same hunger as this game anything is possible! I am going to that game so look out for that post!

Thank you for reading.

Ellie Xx