Key Takeaways:
- West Ham secured a valuable point with a 0-0 draw against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park last night
- The result extended West Ham’s gap over 18th-placed Tottenham Hotspur to two points with five matches remaining
- Crystal Palace missed the opportunity to achieve three consecutive home victories in all competitions for the first time this season
Match Analysis
West Ham edged closer to Premier League safety on Saturday evening following a tightly contested 0-0 stalemate at Selhurst Park against Crystal Palace. The outcome denied the Eagles a chance to claim three consecutive home wins in all competitions for the first time this season.
Despite Palace’s recent progress to the semi-finals of the Conference League, Oliver Glasner’s side demonstrated their league focus by entering the fixture with 13 points from their last seven matches (W4, D1, L2). The opening exchanges reflected that determination, with neither team dominating in the early stages.
It ends goalless at Selhurst Park, and @WestHam move a point further away from the bottom three ⚒️
That result confirms Wolves' relegation from the Premier League pic.twitter.com/f6aAVQd4TF
— Premier League (@premierleague) April 20, 2026
Key Moments & Player Performances
Brennan Johnson, still searching for his breakthrough moment since joining Crystal Palace, had a difficult first half. He failed to convert a free header, directing it wide, and later sent an effort past the post after cutting inside Mads Hermansen’s area.
West Ham responded positively, nearly finding the opener after goalkeeper Dean Henderson misjudged a punch, only for Taty Castellanos’ acrobatic bicycle kick to be blocked by Maxence Lacroix. The visitors’ best opportunity came just before the interval, but Konstantinos Mavropanos could not keep his impressive scoring run going as Henderson turned away his commanding header.
Second Half and Late Drama
The second period offered few clear chances, prompting Oliver Glasner to make a triple substitution around the hour mark in search of inspiration. As the match drifted towards a stop-start rhythm, excitement briefly resurfaced for the home fans when substitute Ismaila Sarr drove home from close range, only for the goal to be disallowed for a handball by Jean-Philippe Mateta.
In the closing minutes, neither side could produce a decisive moment, leaving West Ham to settle for a potentially critical point, enhancing their prospects of avoiding relegation.
Implications for Both Sides
Nuno Espirito Santo’s record against Palace extended to six matches without victory (D4, L2), yet the Hammers will be encouraged by restoring their two-point margin over relegation-threatened Tottenham Hotspur, with five fixtures remaining.
Crystal Palace, meanwhile, were denied a club record of three straight head-to-head wins over West Ham but remain comfortably placed in mid-table. With the bottom-placed Wolves now officially relegated, Palace supporters can focus on their aspirations for Conference or Europa League qualification.
