The Eagles turn their attentions back to domestic action after UEFA Conference League quarter-final success in Florence, looking to make it three wins in a row against the Hammers in the Premier League.

In a preview interview conducted ahead of Palace's successful trip to Italy, Glasner discussed his hopes of producing another big performance under the Selhurst Park lights, against a Hammers side who have won five of their last 11 Premier League matches, clambering out of the relegation zone in the process...

**Read on for the key quotes below!**

#### **On what can still be achieved in the Premier League this season…**

“We stopped a few weeks ago, or maybe months, talking about league positions.

“We focused more on the way we are playing, on the football we want to show on the pitch, and this helped us to perform better.

“The consequence of this was that we got more points and more wins. I think this is what we need to keep until the end of the season.

We expect them to be highly motivated and very aggressive

“We’re not talking about the table because it's so tight and things can happen. It can change quickly, so really our focus is on our football, what we want to do, what we have to do.

“And we want to feel this great energy and spirit – then we will see and at the end [of the season] we will get what we deserve.”

#### **On the challenge of facing West Ham…**

“Huge credit to Nuno for what he did [since his appointment]. They were really struggling at the beginning of the season and even when he arrived, but in the last weeks they feel more consistent.

“I think honestly they maybe should have more points from their performances in the recent games they played. They only conceded a late equaliser against Manchester United at home.

“They had a great and important 4-0 win against Wolves at home in their last game. We expect them to be highly motivated and very aggressive because they're fighting against relegation.

“That's what we have to be ready for, to match their aggression and motivation. But the players showed it against Newcastle because it was the same situation. Newcastle were fresh and we had three days after a game in the Conference League.

“But we matched their intensity and motivation. If we can keep this, I think we'll also be able to win against West Ham.”

#### **How he will use his squad against West Ham, as the European journey continues to the final part of the season…**

“We will always see how the players are recovering. If players are still fatigued, it’s better to play ones who are fresh.

“You need to be 100% fit to be competitive in the Premier League. As soon as we have a feeling maybe a player is just 95%, another one will play and now we have better depth in the squad. At the moment we don't have a lot of injuries so this gives us the opportunity to make more changes if necessary.

“We had to make a change when Evann [Guessand] got injured in the first Fiorentina game, but this can happen.

“But we will always play the best available team.

“As soon as you’re not on your top level it's really tough to win games.”

#### **On Jean-Philippe Mateta’s recent impact on the team…**

“I'm always learning from my players and I learned about JP. He's just such a fantastic person, such a lovely person.

“Everybody likes him because he's funny, but he's always working very hard.

“He's so professional. He's always the first one coming in in the morning. Then most of the time, he is the last one leaving. Sometimes he's two hours on the bed taking a massage.

“He tries to improve his game and he always plays for the team because he also understands that the better the team plays, the more chances he gets and the more goals he will score.

“He depends on his teammates and the teammates depend on him… that's why football is such an amazing team sport.”

#### **On Tyrick Mitchell's development over the last two years…**

"T was always one of the best defenders in the Premier League and I think he improved his attacking game massively not just by scoring goals and getting assists, but also really being a constant threat to the opposition. 

"At the beginning [left wing-back] was new for him but that also shows him as a player and as a person that he was always open and wanted to get input on how he can improve his attacking game.

"He just worked hard on the pitch and then he gets the benefit – and if he gets the benefit, we all get the benefit, and that's what we really like."

### **Match Details**

**Crystal Palace v West Ham United**

- Monday, 20th April
- 20:00 BST
- Selhurst Park
- [Live audio commentary on Palace TV+](https://www.cpfc.co.uk/supporters/palace-tv-plus/)

Oliver Glasner has been speaking ahead of Monday night's visit from West Ham United, as Crystal Palace return to Premier League action (20:00 BST) following another memorable European away day. 

Glasner on Premier League aims & what he expects from West Ham

Crystal Palace v West Ham United (2026-04-20)

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Last May, it was announced that [Crystal Palace Women would be competing in the newly-named Women's Super League 2.](https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/announcement/palace-women-to-compete-in-newly-named-wsl2-from-2025-26/)

Along with a new name - the WSL2 has a new structure for this season. 

In previous years, only the top team would earn promotion to the WSL,  this was how Palace earned WSL promotion in the 2023/24 season.

However, for this season only, up to three teams can go up - making this a totally unique campaign for Jo Potter's side.

#### **Who gets promoted to the WSL this season?**

- Like previous years, the first-place side will earn automatic promotion to the WSL.
- The second-place team will also earn automatic promotion to the topflight.
- The third-place team will contest a playoff game against the bottom side in the WSL, with the winner taking the last spot in the topflight.

The 2025/26 format is unique to this campaign, as from the 2026/27 season onwards - the second-place team will contest the playoff against the 13th-place WSL side.

This means the WSL will have 14 teams instead of 12 from the 2026/27 season.

#### **What do Palace need to do?**

Following the recent 1-0 win over Ipswich Town, Palace Women are now in third-place with 38 points - the promotion playoff position.

Birmingham now sit in first-place, six points ahead of Palace on 41 points.

Second-place Charlton Athletic are also on 41 points, but have a significantly worse goal difference than the Blues.

Fourth-place Newcastle United find themselves on 33 points, and must win both of their remaining games to have a chance at making the playoff.

**If Palace win one of their two remaining games**, they will guarantee a promotion playoff spot as a minimum.

**To catch Birmingham**, Palace will need to win both games, and hope the Blues earn no more than two points from their remaining two games.

**To catch Charlton**, Palace will need to win all three games, and hope the Addicks fail to win both of their two remaining games.

It's all set to be a dramatic final day - as Palace host 12th-place Portsmouth, whilst Charlton take on Birmingham at home.

Check out our remaining fixtures below:

- **Sunday, 26th April - Sunderland Women v Crystal Palace Women (KO: 14:00 BST)**
- **Saturday, 2nd May - Crystal Palace Women v Portsmouth Women (KO: 15:00 BST)**

**Tickets are available for that huge home clash at the VBS Community Stadium - click below to buy your tickets!**

Buy Palace v Portsmouth tickets!

Two games separate Crystal Palace Women from a potential spot in the Women's Super League. Read below to see what Palace need in order to secure an immediate return to the topflight...

The Run-In: What do Palace need to get promoted?

Crystal Palace Women v Portsmouth Women (2026-05-02)

Sunderland Women v Crystal Palace Women (2026-04-26)

Ipswich Town Women

Women's Super League 2

Crystal Palace Women

Sunderland Women

The home of Palace Women. Find the majority of games played here in Sutton with our official supporters guide.

Visiting the VBS 

## Annabel Blanchard

> Blanchard joined Palace in 2022 off the back of a remarkable season with Blackburn Rovers in which she earned both Coaches' and Supporters' Player of the Season, and has since grown into one of English football's most exciting playmakers.

Blanchard is a young, two-footed forward capable of playing across the front line or, more regularly, as a No. 10.

Blanchard began her career aged just 16 with Liverpool, but started her time with the England youth setup the year before, and has represented the national side from Under-17-Under-19 levels.

After leaving Liverpool she joined Leicester City and then Blackburn Rovers, with whom she finished joint-top goalscorer in 21/22.

Blanchard then joined Palace in the summer of 2022 and made a strong start in South London, with four goals in 22 Championship appearances in her maiden campaign.

In 2023/24, Blanchard's brilliance shone as Palace Women claimed promotion from the Championship, the forward scoring 11 times in just 19 league games including clinical hat-tricks against both Durham and London City Lionesses.

Such form led to Blanchard not only winning both the Championship Goal and Player of the Month awards in September – as well as a nomination for the latter for November – but also the club's Player of the Month awards for October and March to boot.

At the start of Palace's first-ever top-flight season, Blanchard became our inaugural Women's Super League goalscorer, netting a brace in our first win against Leicester City – 2-0 at the King Power Stadium – in October 2024.

September 2023

Championship Player of the Month

Championship Goal of the Month

Blackburn Rovers, 2021/22

Coaches' Player of the Season

Supporters' Player of the Season

February 2023, October 2023, April 2024

Crystal Palace Player of the Month

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EXPLORE PALACE WOMEN

#### **Wales**

**Elise Hughes and Hayley Ladd**

Palace's number nine got on the scoresheet for Wales again, as her side beat Albania 4-0 at the Racecourse Ground in Wrexham.

Hughes pounced on a spill from goalkeeper Rajmonda Spahiu to put her side 2-0 up on 35 minutes.

Hayley Ladd entered the field as a substitute on 75 minutes, as the Dragons secured a vital win in Group B1.

They will now travel to Albania for the return fixture on Saturday.

Wales have an identical record to Czechia in their group, so will need to better their result if they want to finish first.

Group B winners are guaranteed to be seeded for the first round of the playoffs, meaning they would avoid the toughest opponents early on and have the advantage of playing the second leg of their play-off at home.

**Tue, 14th April: Wales 4-0 Albania**

**Sat, 18th April: Albania v Wales (KO: 17:00 BST)**

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Pouncing in the box 😎 <a href="https://t.co/XbyOOaDjJU">pic.twitter.com/XbyOOaDjJU</a></p>&mdash; Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 (@Cymru) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cymru/status/2044128006445175206?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 14, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

#### **Ireland**

**Abbie Larkin and Ruesha Littlejohn**

Abbie Larkin started in Gdańsk as the Girls in Green pulled off an impressive 3-2 win against Poland.

Larkin played 69 minutes as goals from Emily Murphy, Katie McCabe and Marissa Sheva earned an invaluable three points in Group A2.

Ruesha Littlejohn was not called upon, as Ireland moved one step closer to World Cup qualification.

A win against Poland at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday will see Ireland consolidate third-place in their group, which would guarantee a more favourable route at the playoff stage.

**Tue, 14th April: Poland 2-3 Republic of Ireland** 

**Sat, 18th April: Republic of Ireland v Poland (KO: 15:00 BST)**

#### **Jamaica**

**Allyson Swaby**

Jamaica's goal is clear - they need to win Group B in order to reach the 2026 CONCACAF W Championship.

A Bunny Shaw hattrick put them in a good position ahead of Saturday's Guyana clash, as the Reggae Girlz beat Antigua & Barbuda 4-0 last Friday.

Palace's Allyson Swaby started in Kingston, and helped her side keep a clean sheet. 

A win against Guyana will see Jamaica top the group and reach the eight-team Championship in November.

Should they reach that stage, the Reggae Girlz will then need to reach the semi-finals in order to confirm World Cup qualification.

**Fri, 10th April: Jamaica 4-0 Antigua & Barbuda**

**Sat, 18th April: Jamaica v Guyana**

#### **Scotland**

**Kirsty Howat**

Kirsty Howat was a late substitute, as a 90+5 minute goal from Kathleen McGovern rescued a point for Scotland in Belgium.

Leicester City's Sari Kees put the Belgians ahead on 15 minutes, with the Red Flames withstanding the Scotland attack until the final moments.

McGovern tapped home Lauren Davidson's cross in injury-time, a goal that means Scotland can still finish first in the group.

Should Scotland beat Belgium in the reverse fixture in Leuven on Saturday, they will confirm a first-place finish in Group B4.

**Tue, 14th April: Scotland 1-1 Belgium** 

**Sat, 18th April: Belgium v Scotland (KO: 19:30 BST)**

#### **Sweden Under-23's**

**My Cato**

Sweden won their group in the WU23 Friendlies, and so the U23 national team will now compete for the competition's title in Spain. 

They got off to the perfect start in Pinatar, Spain with a 1-0 win over international rivals Norway.

My Cato played 85 minutes as Mathilde Janzen's goal proved to be the difference.

A final against England now awaits on Friday, as the Young Lionesses defeated Netherlands 1-0 in their semi-final.

**Mon, 13th April: Sweden 1-0 Norway**

**Fri, 17th April: England v Sweden (KO: 12:00 BST)**

#### **England Under-19's**

**Lola Brown**

Lola Brown and the Young Lionesses are in Switzerland for the UEFA Women's U19 EURO second qualifying round.

Lauren Smith’s side began their campaign with a resounding 5-0 win over Latvia last Thursday, with Brown an unused substitute.

Brown started and played 62 minutes in the subsequent game against Wales, where the Young Lionesses lost 3-2.

The final game will be against Switzerland on Wednesday 15th April, with only the group winners progressing to this summer’s finals in Bosnia & Herzegovina.

**Thu, 9th April: England 5-0 Latvia**

**Sun, 12th April: England 2-3 Wales** 

**Wed, 15th April: England v Switzerland (KO: 12:00 BST)**

Crucial FIFA Women's World Cup qualifiers are ongoing for several Crystal Palace Women's players. Read below to find out where and when they will be playing...

International Eagles: Hughes scores in Wrexham, Ireland get huge win

Belgium Women v Scotland Women (2026-04-18)

Scotland Women v Belgium Women (2026-04-14)

Republic of Ireland Women v Poland Women (2026-04-18)

Poland Women v Republic of Ireland Women (2026-04-14)

Buy Portsmouth tickets here!

Palace are currently fighting for an immediate return to the Women's Super League, and sit third in the league with two games to go.

One more win would seal a promotion playoff position, but two wins could see the Eagles go up automatically.

Opponents Portsmouth will likely need a win in South London to avoid relegation to the third-tier, so both teams will be desperate to win in Sutton.

**[Click here to find out exactly what Palace will need to do to get promoted!](https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/women/the-run-in-what-do-palace-need-to-get-promoted/)**

#### **What to expect from our Fanzone?**

The **Fanzone opens at 13:30 BST**, 90 minutes before kick-off, and is packed with family-friendly games and activities. It's the perfect place to get into the matchday spirit!

**You can look forward to a range of exciting attractions, including:**

- **Half-time penalty shoot-out: Our popular penalty shoot-out challenge returns!**
- **Arts and Crafts station: Create something special for the final game of the season.**
- **Player signing session: A Crystal Palace star will be in the Fanzone before kick-off - come and say hi!**
- **Face-painter: Show your support in style and get your face painted with the Palace colours.**
- **Pete and Alice: Get your photo taken with our beloved club mascots, Pete and Alice, who will be there to meet fans of all ages.**

And for those looking to grab a bite or a drink, we've got our updated food menu and the **['Alcohol in the Bowl'](https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/women/crystal-palace-women-to-participate-in-fan-choice-alcohol-in-the-bowl-trial/)** scheme will be in effect, allowing you to enjoy a drink in the stands whilst you watch the match unfold.

### **Before you travel**

**All tickets will be digital** and will be emailed to the account holder before each game.

**Tickets for every game** will be sent out as PDF files, which can either be scanned on your phone at the gates, or printed off at home.

Although we are not expecting any travel disruption, we always recommend arriving early to soak up the atmosphere and avoid any queues at the turnstiles.

### **Seating Arrangements**

Although all supporters at Selhurst Park matches will be seated, matches **in Sutton** will see supporters have the option of purchasing either a **Seating Ticket** – allowing them to reserve a specific seat within the VBS Community Stadium’s stands – or a **Standing Ticket**.

Standing Tickets are not restricted to specific areas. Supporters will be able to move around all terracing stands at the VBS Community Stadium, depending on availability.

If you are a supporter with any **accessibility requirements**, please contact our dedicated Disability Liaison Officer, Rhianna Odartey, either by email **[dlo@cpfc.co.uk](mailto:dlo@cpfc.co.uk)** or call 0208 768 6000. Limited parking is available for supporters with a blue badge.

### **Going to the game?**

We can't wait to welcome you to Sutton for what should be another amazing matchday in South London.

For any questions or queries relating to the VBS, click the button below to access our 2025/26 Supporter’s Guide to the VBS Community Stadium.

Supporters Guide

### **Getting to the VBS Community Stadium**

The VBS Community Stadium is easily accessible by both car and public transport.

The closest train station is West Sutton, which is just a short walk from the ground. Alternatively, you can take a train to Sutton station and enjoy a 20-minute walk down the high street to the stadium. If you’re travelling by bus, the 413 and 80 routes run close to the stadium.

For those driving, please note that the stadium car park is for permit holders only. We recommend parking at the Gibson Road municipal car park, which is about a 15-minute walk from the ground.

### **Can I watch from home?**

If you are unable to attend the VBS Community Stadium, you can still watch the game LIVE on YouTube, with a link to the stream being provided closer to kick-off.

Coverage starts from 15:00 BST, with the game being streamed on the **[official BWSL2 YouTube account.](https://www.youtube.com/@BarclaysWSL2)**

The best of the day's content will also take centre-stage on **[cpfc.co.uk](http://cpfc.co.uk)**, and our dedicated Palace Women's X and Instagram accounts. Highlights will also be available via Palace TV in the subsequent days.

### **Match Details**

- **Crystal Palace Women vs Portsmouth Women**
- **Saturday, 2nd May (15:00 BST)**
- **Barclays Women's Super League 2**
- **VBS Community Stadium**

We can't wait to see you there to cheer on the Eagles for the final game of the regular season!

It's set to be a dramatic final day in the Barclays Women's Super League 2, as Palace could seal promotion to the topflight at home to Portsmouth. Read below to see what will be on offer in Sutton...

Women

Women

The Run-In: What do Palace need to get promoted?

Latest News

International Eagles: Hughes scores in Wrexham, Ireland get huge win

What to expect from Palace Women v Portsmouth

17Annabel
Blanchard

Women

Women

The Run-In: What do Palace need to get promoted?

Latest News

International Eagles: Hughes scores in Wrexham, Ireland get huge win

What to expect from Palace Women v Portsmouth

17AnnabelBlanchard

17Annabel
Blanchard