West Ham and Crystal Palace shared the spoils in a keenly contested London derby at the Boleyn Ground on Saturday, in a result that does neither team many favours in achieving their aims for the season. Palace have been sucked into the relegation dogfight having failed to win a league match in 2013. They recover well in 2015 after Pardew was confirmed as the new manager, and with a new sponsorship from the Mansion Group, the Eagles seems to be on the right track. Whilst West Ham’s excellent form has seen them join the hunt for Champions League qualification.
Palace’s strikers have been in notoriously goal shy form this season, however, their defenders have been notably more prolific. Fittingly, Damien Delaney gambled on an Adrian handling error from a set piece and hit the jackpot, heading the fumbled cross into the Hammers net after just 15 minutes.
The Irons rolled the dice and left Palace contemplating snake eyes just three minutes later, as Manuel Lanzini’s low shot made it 1-1. Shortly before half-time, the irrepressible Dimitri Payet curled one of his trademark free kicks over the Palace wall and into the top corner. Payet deceived Eagles keeper Wayne Hennessy with some devilish top spin, the ball arcing majestically under the crossbar and into the net.
In the reverse fixture in October, Dwight Gayle was sent off for Crystal Palace for a pair of mistimed challenges. On this occasion, West Ham were dealt a card that compromised their hand as Cheikhou Kouyate was sent off for fouling Gayle. Eagle’s manager Alan Pardew and Dwight Gayle both admitted that the decision had been harsh on Kouyate. However, West Ham were made to pay a further levy as Gayle pounced on a messy clearance from Ogbonna to slot an equaliser past Adrian just eight minutes later. It was Gayle’s first league goal since January 2015.
Palace are seven points clear of Sunderland in 18th, but still have trips to the Emirates and Old Trafford on the horizon. West Ham now sit three points off of a Champions League berth, with both Manchester clubs having won this weekend. They play at home to Arsenal on Saturday. Palace play Norwich who are just three points behind them in 17th place. A draw suited neither team, but was probably the right result on the day.
