Premier League
Crystal Palace 1-1 West Ham United 

Saturday, 9th February 2019
by Alice Loveridge

A flat second half from West Ham sees them gain just a point from their trip to Selhurst Park. It could have been worse though after a string of misses from Crystal Palace and a number of decent saves from Lucasz Fabianski.

There were no changes to the starting XI which held the leaders Liverpool to a 1-1 draw at the London Stadium on Monday night.

It was a good start from the Hammers, and it looked like it was going to be a goal-filled London derby. In the 14th minute Ryan Fredericks had a rare sight on goal after a decent ball from Michail Antonio but his effort was saved by Vicente Guaita. Not long after, Snodgrass also had a chance to put the Hammers ahead, but his strike was directed straight at Guaita.

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Fabianski then made an excellent save with his right hand in the 18th minute after a close range shot from James McArthur. On the counter attack, Felipe Anderson delivered a superb ball into the box for Javier Hernandez who was in acres of space, but he couldn?EUR(TM)t sort his feet out and his first touch was far too heavy to make anything of it.

Antonio earned the Hammers a penalty after he tried to get his head to the end of a lob into the box from Declan Rice. Antonio got to the ball first and Guaita clattered into him, sending Antonio to the floor. Mark Noble stepped up to the penalty spot and earned his first goal of the season with a solid strike into the left-hand corner to put the Hammers in the lead with 27 minutes on the clock.

There was another good save from Fabianski in the 30th minute after a strike from Christian Benteke. Benteke should have done better but it was a decent save nonetheless.

It was a promising first-half from the Hammers, with Anderson making some excellent passes and Fabianski keeping them in the lead. The second half, however, was a different story. Crystal Palace seemed to dominate possession and West Ham could hardly get the ball out of their own half.

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McArthur missed an absolute sitter at the start of the second half to bring the Eagles level. He got away from the back four, Fredericks keeping him just onside, and was one-on-one with Fabianski but booted the ball wide from about six yards out.

Milivojevic, who was already on a yellow card, made a crunching tackle on Noble with 62 minutes on the clock. Craig Pawson played advantage as the Hammers were on the attack and it seemed to give him too much time to think about showing Milivojevic a second yellow card.

Without a doubt, he should have been off. West Ham were still 1-0 up at this stage ?EUR" should Palace have gone down to ten men, it would have been a completely different second half.

In the 68th minute Batshuayi got away on the counter attack but Cresswell made a vital tackle on the edge of the box to stop him from having a shot. Not longer after, Batshuayi did get a shot from ten yards out but smashed it wide. West Ham could not seem to stop the pressing from Crystal Palace.

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Arnoutovic came on in the 69th minute hoping to put West Ham more on the attack but the Austrian barely touched the ball.

Wilfried Zaha deservedly levelled the game in the 76th minute. His shot took a deflection off Issa Diop and looped over Fabianski who didn?EUR(TM)t really stand a chance.

Zaha almost put the hosts ahead with a powerful strike just inside the box in the 80th minute but Fabianski made another great save. The Ivorian missed another chance 9 minutes later as he was left completely unmarked in the box.

West Ham regained a bit of possession in the last few minutes of the game but nothing came of it and it was a lucky point in the end. Having said that, Milojevic should have been off at 1-0 and that would have made a huge difference.

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Player Ratings

Lucasz Fabianski
Another solid performance from the Number 1. He made some good saves, ultimately keeping West Ham from dropping 3 points. Zaha?EUR(TM)s deflection off Diop from a tight angle meant there was not much he could do to stop the goal.


Ryan Fredericks
He started off well, keeping pace with Zaha and making some good runs forward, but looked tired in the second half and didn?EUR(TM)t hold the line at times. He was substituted for Zabaleta which was a strange move and could be the sign of another injury problem


Aaron Cresswell
He has shown much more consistency and confidence in his last few games in a West Ham shirt. He made a couple of vital challenges and clearances today. 8. Issa Diop: The deflection was unfortunate but crucial. He was strong with some blocks and interceptions but nothing special.


Issa Diop
The deflection was unfortunate but crucial. He was strong with some blocks and interceptions but nothing special.


Angelo Ogbonna
He did what he needed to for most of the game. More consistent than recent games.


Declan Rice
Very quiet and didn?EUR(TM)t seem to keep up with the pace of the game.


Mark Noble
Calm in the middle and a strong spot kick to put West Ham in the lead.


Felipe Anderson
Excellent first half with some superb runs and passes which should have resulted in an earlier lead. He wavered in the second half though and didn?EUR(TM)t show anywhere near the same level of pace and skill in both halves.


Robert Snodgrass
He should have done better with his chance on goal in the 15th minute. He was lacking energy in the second half and didn?EUR(TM)t create anything to initiate a West Ham attack.


Michail Antonio
A strong performance from Antonio. He showed good physicality and outran Palace down the right-hand side on a number of occasions.


Javier Hernandez
He is just not taking his chances at the moment. He was quiet for most of the game and the one big chance he had, he blew.



Substitutes

Marko Arnautovic
(Replaced Hernandez) Barely touched the ball but, to be fair, he didn?EUR(TM)t have much opportunity to.


Pedro Obiang
(Replaced Antonio) His substitution brought hope of some fresh legs in midfield, but he also struggled to break down the pressure from Palace.


Pablo Zabaleta
(Replaced Fredericks) He only came on for about 10 minutes but made one vital block, once again showing his experience and determination.


Adrian San Miguel del Castillo
Did not play.


Arthur Masuaku
Did not play.


Grady Diangana
Did not play.


Andy Carroll
Did not play.



Match Facts

West Ham United: Lucasz Fabianski, Ryan Fredericks, Aaron Cresswell, Issa Diop, Angelo Ogbonna, Declan Rice, Mark Noble, Felipe Anderson, Robert Snodgrass, Michail Antonio, Javier Hernandez.

Goals: Mark Noble 27                  .

Booked: None.

Sent off: None.

Crystal Palace: Guaita, Wan-Bissaka, Kelly, Sakho, van Aanholt, Milivojevic, McArthur, Meyer (79), Schlupp, Townsend, Zaha, Benteke (Batshuayi 61).

Subs not used: Hennessey, Ward, Dann, Sako, Ayew.

Goals: Zaha (76).

Booked: Wan-Bissaka, Milivojevic, McArthur.

Sent off: None.

Referee: Craig Pawson.

Attendance: 25,552.

Man of the Match: Aaron Cresswell.