Report & Highlights: Palace & West Ham share points from competitive contest

Ismaïla Sarr had a late effort ruled out, while Brennan Johnson twice went close, but in the end Palace had to take the point against a Hammers side battling for Premier League survival.

It’s now four unbeaten in the league for the Eagles, who are once again showing desire to produce a strong finish to the season.

Summary:

• Four changes for the Eagles from the side that beat Fiorentina on Thursday, but Oliver Glasner names an identical team to the one that started against Newcastle.
• 7: Strand Larsen flicks Mitchell’s cross wide of the target as the Eagles start fast.
• 20: Johnson heads wide after more positive play from Mitchell.
• 27: Pino finds Johnson, who curls a smart effort just wide as Palace seek control.
• 44: Mavropanos heads the ball towards goal, but it is saved well by Henderson.
• Half-time: Palace 0-0 West Ham
• 55: Johnson forces Hermansen into a save.
• 59: Glasner introduces Mateta, Sarr and Kamada from the bench.
• 76: Mateta nearly finds Sarr with a powerful cross but Hermansen saves.
• 82: Sarr fires home, but the goal is ruled out for a Mateta handball.
• Full-time: Palace 0-0 West Ham

Oliver Glasner made four changes from the last outing in Florence, with Will Hughes, Jefferson Lerma, Brennan Johnson and Jørgen Strand Larsen returning to the starting team.

And, on a sunny spring South London evening, Palace began brightly with Johnson and Strand Larsen linking up nicely in the early stages.

The Norwegian had the first sight of goal of the evening with a clever flick from Tyrick Mitchell’s cross off-target.

The Hammers' first chance arrived exactly on the 15th minute. Pablo caused confusion with a driving run at the Palace defence, before Taty Castellanos lashed a shot into the Holmesdale end.

Five minutes later and a golden opportunity came Palace’s way. Lerma was given space and produced an exquisite cross from the left channel.

Johnson met the ball with his head, but couldn’t trouble Hammers ‘keeper Mads Hermansen. The Wales international was at the heart of every Palace attack, going close with a wonderful curling effort after he was picked out by Yéremy Pino.

The visitors did have their fair share of territory, with Palace forced to deal with a number of dangerous Mateus Fernandes free-kicks. But the biggest scare of the half came when Konstantinos Mavropanos powered a header towards goal from a great position.

Dean Henderson reacted superbly to keep the ball out, before Mitchell dragged wide after a rapid Eagles counter-attack. That meant, despite decent chances at either end, it was goalless after the first 45 minutes.

West Ham threatened early on after the break, with a overhead kick from Jarrod Bowen causing confusion in the Palace penalty area, before Jaydee Canvot eventually dealt with the situation.

Johnson then forced Hermansen into action after a flowing move from the right, before only a last-gasp Mavropanos interception prevented Strand Larsen scoring, with the Eagles starting to find their rhythm.

Glasner then once again decided to play a three-card trick, with Jean-Philippe Mateta, Daichi Kamada and Ismaïla Sarr joining the action in a triple change.

The Hammers nearly benefitted from a horrendous bit of luck for the Eagles when Lerma slipped just outside his own penalty area. Fortunately, Castellanos could only run the ball into Henderson’s arms.

At that point it felt like one goal either way would win it.

The visitors, knowing they could take a big step towards survival with a win, threw on striker Callum Wilson to try and test the Palace backline.

But at the other end, Mateta was causing real problems with his physicality and nearly found Sarr with a powerful cross. Lerma then forced a save from Hermansen as the Eagles continued to offer a threat.

Then came the moment that looked to have won it for the Eagles. A high ball in front of the Hammers’ goal caused chaos, with Sarr eventually firing in from only a few yards out. However, Mateta had flicked the ball towards him with an arm – VAR confirming the on-field decision and keeping the score at 0-0.

Four minutes of added-on time were indicated but by this point West Ham had firmly shut up shop. And once Lerma headed over from a set-piece that was Palace’s chance at all three points gone.

The Eagles return to action on Saturday (15:00 BST) for our fourth meeting with Liverpool this season and our second at Anfield – with Palace yet to lose to the Reds in 2025/26.

Palace: Henderson (GK), Richards, Lacroix, Canvot, Muñoz, Hughes (Kamada, 59), Lerma, Mitchell, Johnson (Devenny, 78), Pino (Sarr, 59), Strand Larsen (Mateta, 59).

Subs: Benítez (GK), Clyne, Riad, Sosa, Cardines.

West Ham: Hermansen (GK), Walker-Peters, Mavropanos, Disasi, Diouf, Fernandes, Souček, Bowen, Summerville, Pablo (Wilson, 75), Castellanos (Kanté, 84).

Subs: Areola (GK), Wan-Bissaka, Scarles, Todibo, Potts, Magassa, Adama.

AS IT HAPPENED