It was a classic “Monday Night Football” grind at Selhurst Park, but if you were hoping for a goal-fest, you left disappointed. Crystal Palace and West Ham United played out a scoreless 0-0 draw that felt more like a chess match than a London derby.
For the Eagles, it was a night of “what ifs.” Oliver Glasner’s side dominated the ball and carved out the better openings, but they just couldn’t find the clinical edge to break down a stubborn Hammers backline. Brennan Johnson was a constant menace on the wing, curling one just wide in the first half and forcing a smart save from Mads Hermansen after the break.
VAR Heartbreak and Defensive Heroics
The biggest talking point of the night came in the 82nd minute. Selhurst was ready to erupt when Ismaïla Sarr poked the ball home from close range, but the celebrations were cut short. VAR stepped in, spotting a handball from Jean-Philippe Mateta in the buildup. It was the right call, but a bitter pill for Palace to swallow after four unbeaten games.
On the other side, Nuno Espírito Santo will be the happier manager. West Ham sat deep, soaked up the pressure, and relied on the aerial dominance of Konstantinos Mavropanos and Axel Disasi. While the Hammers didn’t offer much going forward—aside from a spectacular Taty Castellanos overhead kick that went begging—a point away from home keeps them moving in the right direction.
The Survival Stakes
This draw moves West Ham two points clear of the drop zone, specifically jumping ahead of a struggling Tottenham Hotspur in 18th. For Palace, they stay comfortably mid-table, showing the kind of grit that has seen them reach the UEFA Conference League semi-finals recently. They’ll feel they deserved all three points, but in the Premier League, if you don’t take your chances, you don’t get the spoils.
