Crystal Palace vs West Ham United
Manuel Pellegrini takes his West Ham team to South London in search of a win on Thursday, though he’s unlikely to receive much seasonal cheer from his hosts.
Premier League: Crystal Palace vs West Ham has the look of a Boxing Day mid-table clash but the Hammers, in particular, are in need of points. They sit in 16th place, just four points above the drop zone, and with 18th placed Aston Villa playing 19th placed Norwich City, a defeat for the Eastenders could reduce the gap to a single point.
At the half way point of the season that would represent a crisis for Pellegrini, and one he desperately wants to avoid.
Recent Crystal Palace vs West Ham results will give the Hammers fans cause for optimism, it is six seasons since they have returned from Selhurst Park empty handed, and how they need a result right now.
Talking Points
Stop start Eagles
Roy Hodgson’s Palace fell to a disappointing defeat at Newcastle on Saturday, Miguel Almiron scoring his first goal for the Magpies, in the 83rd minute, to grab the win. And that ended a run of eight points from four games which had lifted the Eagles up into the top half of the table.
Talisman Wilfried Zaha has been blowing hot and cold, leaving Jordan Ayew to top the Eagles’ scoring charts with just four. But he scored a sensational solo effort in a recent 1-1 draw with Brighton, turning the hapless fullback inside out before blasting his shot past Mat Ryan into the net.
If Zaha’s head is on this game then West Ham had better watch out.
Hammers need to start giving value for money
After their pre-season purchases ignited some optimism in the East End it’s been a disappointing first half of the season for West Ham. Take a look at the latest SBOBET football relegation odds in the Premier League. The Hammers are at 5.00 to drop out of the top flight. Only four teams are at shorter odds, the three bottom clubs and improving Southampton, so Pellegrini’s team is in a precarious position.
The move to the 60,000 London Stadium has lifted their fans’ aspirations but the Hammers are yet to deliver. They have had a week off, due to Liverpool’s World Club Championship commitments, and need to come back firing.
The Iron came up with a stunning result on the road at the beginning of the month when an Aaron Cresswell strike was enough to beat Frank Lampard’s Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. That was followed by back-to-back defeats against Wolves and at home to Arsenal.
Pellegrini paid £40m to bring striker Sebastien Haller from Frankfurt to East London and he started the season well, but had gone ten hours without scoring before netting in a vital 0-1 win away to Southampton. He turned in a knock-down from another expensive recruit, Pablo Fornals, so maybe they are starting to give some value for money.
The Hammers have struggled in defence and there could be a return for goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski, who has been out for two months after suffering a hip injury against Bournemouth back in September. West Ham have kept just two clean sheets since, and if he returns this week it will be a major boost.
History
These are two established Premier League clubs but neither team has been champions of England. Crystal Palace’s best performance in the top tier was a third placed finish back in 1991, while the Hammers finished third in 1986.
Last season West Ham reached 10th in the table, two places above the Eagles who currently sit in 12th place again this term.
The head to head clashes have been evenly contested over the last 25 years, with the Eagles winning seven to West Ham’s nine, and there have been seven draws. While Palace won the last meeting, at the London Stadium by 1-2 in October, the Hammers were unbeaten in the previous eight.
In fact, Palace’s last home win against West Ham was in 2013, and last season’s clash here at Selhurst Park resulted in a 1-1 draw,
Both sides have won two from the last six, but while Palace have picked up two draws Pellegrini’s men have lost the other four.
So where do we go with today’s Crystal Palace vs West Ham betting tips?
Betting Tip
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Crystal Palace vs West Ham United | 2-3 Goals @ 1.90 |
| December 26, 23:00 (GMT+8) |
The Eagles are at 2.28 to win this game, with the Hammers at 3.15 and the draw slightly further out at 3.20.
I’d favour a Palace win if pushed, but when you look at the individual quality in West Ham’s ranks, if they start to click as a team they will climb away from danger. Four points and four places separate these two teams in the Premier League table, the Eagles aren’t exactly flying and a win for the Hammers would reduce the gap to a single point, then life would look a whole lot different.
No surprise then that 1-1 is at 5.80, and that would make a good outside bet. But if either side nicks a winner I’d still back the Eagles.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR ( ) BETS ARE WORTH: |
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 = €20 (Highly confident) |
= €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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