West Ham Utd 3-2 Crystal Palace

  • by Staff Writer
  • Saturday, 8th December 2018

Manuel Pellegrini's West Ham were forced to come from behind before recording their third successive Premier League victory.

Goals from Robert Snodgrass, Javier Hernandez and a worldy from Felipe Anderson - now West Ham's leading goalscorer this season - were enough to secure all three points, despite West Ham's goals being sandwiched between James McArthur's opening goal and Jeffrey Schlupp's late consolation.

Embed from Getty Images


Although it was all smiles come the final whistle West Ham struggled initially, falling behind after just six minutes when McArthur beat Lucasz Fabianski to a ball played behind the defence.

And Palace could've been two ahead before West Ham managed to register, but Luka Milivojevic's 20-yard free kick on the stroke of half time failed to beat the woodwork despite leaving Fabianski flat-footed and well-beaten.

With Andy Carroll introduced at half time for last Tuesday's match winner Lucas Perez, West Ham began to look more of a threat in the final third. And it took Pellegrini's side just three minutes to cancel out Palace advantage when Snodgrass scored his first Premier League goal since January 2017.

Embed from Getty Images


The Hammers continued to dominate and a second goal eventually arrived just after the hour mark. Felipe Anderson's free kick was well saved by Wayne Hennessey but he was helpless to prevent Hernandez from slamming the rebound into the roof of the net.

Two minutes later and the game was all but finished as Anderson grabbed his sixth goal of the campaign - and it's unlikely that you'll see a better effort all season. With shades of Roberto Carlos' exquisite effort from 1997's Le Le Tournoi, Anderson bent a superb effort around and over a helpless Hennessey to make it 3-1.

However Palace weren't quite done yet; Schlupp's 76th minute effort gave the visitors hope of an unlikely revival but West Ham managed to hang on and record a third win in eight days; a perfect way in which to approach the busy Christmas period.

Embed from Getty Images


West Ham Utd: Fabianski, Zabaleta, Balbuena, Diop, Masuaku, Snodgrass, Noble, Rice, Anderson (Obiang 84), Perez (Carroll 46), Hernandez (Diangana 75).

Subs not used: Adrian, Cresswell, Ogbonna, Antonio.

Goals: Snodgrass (48), Chicharito (62), Felipe Anderson (65).

Booked: Diop (38).

Crystal Palace: Hennessey, Wan-Bissaka, Tomkins, Sakho, van Aanholt (Schlupp 55), Meyer (Puncheon 84), Milivojevic, Kouyate, McArthur (Ayew 66), Townsend, Zaha.

Subs not used: Guaita, Ward, Kelly, Sorloth.

Goals: McArthur (6), Schlupp (76).

Booked: Zaha (90+1).

Referee: Anthony Taylor.

Tickets Sold: 56,995.

* Something to say about this story? Please visit the KUMB Forum to leave a comment.



More News