West Ham vs Crystal Palace Prediction

West Ham vs Crystal Palace – 2-2 draw, this is a tight game to call. Palace have been fantastic on their travels recently while West Ham are coming into this game on the back of one of their best performances this season. It should be a great game to watch and there will be goals in it but I see both these teams sharing the points here.

West Ham

West Ham’s latest signing Nene set to make his West Ham debut

The Hammers come into this match on the back of 2-2 draw versus Tottenham last week. It was a game that Hammers would have won if football games were decided on performance but despite leading 2-0 till the 80^th minute they ended up having to settle for a point after the game ended 2-2 with Kane scoring in the 96^th minute for Spurs.

West Ham has won just one of their last nine league matches but their performance against Spurs was a hint at what this team is capable off. They went into that Spurs match on the back of a 4-0 drubbing at the hands of West Brom in the FA Cup but their response to that defeat was just brilliant.

Sam Allardyce has been on the receiving end of plenty of stick from the Hammers fans but no one can question his tactics against Spurs.

Brazilian striker Nene is set to make his West Ham debut on Saturday. Andy Carroll is out for their rest of the season with another injury while Carlton Cole is also out with hamstring injury.

The other absentee in the West Ham ranks is Morgan Amalfitano who is banned after getting send-off during their defeat against the Baggies in the FA Cup.

West Ham are currently 8^th in the table and 8 points behind United who are in 4^th a good last part of the season can get them one of the European spots, if not the Champions League than atleast the Europa League spots are well within their grasp.

West Ham has lost just one of their last 11 games at Upton Park.

Crystal Palace

Palace captain Mile Jedinak set to return from injury

Palace impressed in defeat last Saturday, they went down 2-1 to Arsenal at Selhurst Park but their performance was proof of the good work that Pardew has done in his nearly two month tenure.

They have managed to pick up 3 wins and a draw from their last 6 games and have catapulted themselves to 13^th in table five points away from the relegation spots. Pardew will lead his Palace team to Upton-Park this Saturday to play against a team he managed for 3 seasons during which West Ham were promoted and appeared in the 2005/06 FA Cup final.

Pardew has utilized Palace’s resources well and they are dangerous as ever on the break with the pace of Yannick Bolasie, Dwight Gayle and Jason Puncheon.

Crystal Palace will be boosted by the return of their captain Mile Jedinak and James McArthur from their respective injuries. Palace however will be missing Yaya Sanogo, Marouane Chamakh and Fraizer Campbell who are all out due to injuries.

Palace has won 4 out of their last 6 away matches in the Cup and the League.

Past Meeting

The last time these two teams met early in the season West Ham ended up comfortably winning the game 3-1 with goals from Zarate, Downing and Cole, the lone goal for Palace was scored by Chamakh.

Where they are in the table

8^th – West Ham – 26 games – 39 points

13^th – Crystal Palace – 26 games – 27 points

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