Crystal Palace’s solid win over West Ham raises questions about summer recruitment and European ambitions
London: Crystal Palace put on a great show at the London Stadium, snagging three points with a solid performance. It was a professional display that had fans buzzing.
Palace’s lineup was pretty much what you’d expect, with Henderson in goal and a strong back three. They really dominated the game, leaving West Ham struggling to find their rhythm.
It was a bit of a grind, but Oliver Glasner’s tactics paid off. The team stuck to their 3-4-2-1 formation, and it worked like a charm. The surprise was starting Kamada in midfield, but it turned out to be a smart move.
West Ham, missing some key players, couldn’t even manage a shot on target. Henderson had a quiet day, which is always a good sign for a keeper.
Mateta was the star of the show, scoring a fantastic goal from outside the box. His progress over the last year has been impressive, and he’s really becoming a key player for the Eagles.
Even though Palace didn’t look their best offensively, they found a way to win. The new signing, Romain Esse, should help boost their attack moving forward.
With their current form, they’re looking up the table instead of worrying about relegation. It’s a nice change, and fans are starting to dream about Europe.
But it does make you wonder—if they had recruited better in the summer, could they be in the mix for a top-four finish like Forest and Bournemouth? They’ve drawn a lot of games, and a few more wins could have made a big difference.
Glasner was pleased with the performance, saying they controlled the game well. It’s all about building on this momentum and starting strong in future matches.
