Matheus Fernandes shines, 2/10 dreadful – West Ham player ratings vs Crystal Palace
West Ham slipped to yet another Premier League defeat on Saturday as Tyrick Mitchell scored a late winner to see Crystal Palace emerge 2-1 victors.
West Ham desperately needed three points to hand Graham Potter a huge lift, but it was Jean-Philippe Mateta who opened the scoring from another corner.
Potter’s side came out for the second half with much more purpose and intent, though, and Jarrod Bowen equalised in the 49th minute with his own headed effort from El Hadji Malick Diouf’s corner.
It looked as if the Hammers were set to go on and find a winner as the pressure mounted at the London Stadium, but Potter’s woes were soon compounded as Tyrick Mitchell fired home the decisive goal.
West Ham have sounded out Nuno Espirito Santo as their potential new manager already, with Potter under pressure, and he could well be on his way out after another defeat at the London Stadium.
West Ham continue shoddy defensive showings
Alphonse Areola – 5
Really susceptible to high balls and crosses, which Palace played on as they tried to overload the box from corners and set-pieces. Could not be blamed for either goal, though.
Kyle Walker-Peters – 5
Did not have a bad game going forward, but let himself down in a key moment late on as he lost Mitchell while ball-watching before the Palace left-back smashed home to make it 2-1.
Konstantinos Mavropanos – 4
He was also all at sea for the Eagles’ second as he failed to clear Wharton’s hoisted cross. Just didn’t look comfortable at all, which is becoming a running theme of his performances each week.
Max Kilman – 2
The worst of the lot for the Hammers. Kilman was outjumped for Palace’s opener by Guehi as Mateta then made him pay, and he was easily bypassed way too many times while also being rightly booked for a bad challenge on Yeremy Pino.
El Hadji Malick Diouf – 7
Another bright showing from the summer capture, but it wasn’t enough to help his side come away with anything yet again. Great assist for Bowen’s goal, picked him out really well.
Mateus Fernandes shines in midfield
James Ward-Prowse – 5
Typically lacklustre from the ex-Southampton captain. He has never really imposed himself at the London Stadium up to now, and this was another slow, lethargic showing in claret and blue.
Mateus Fernandes – 9
Effortlessly kept West Ham ticking over in midfield and drove forward with ease numerous times as he looked like the much more experienced player compared to his teammates in the middle of the park. The home support were incensed when he was taken off late on.
Lucas Paqueta – 6
Tried his hardest, but nothing ever came off. Booked for a late tackle in the second half and again looked a shadow of his former self. Paqueta has hinted that this is his last season at West Ham, and the fans won’t really care if it is based on this showing.
Jarrod Bowen carries attack once again
Jarrod Bowen – 7
Faultless in defeat after he had levelled the scores with an expertly timed header. Bowen’s future at West Ham has also been questioned, but they simply cannot lose him anytime soon.
Callum Wilson – 5
Wilson was clearly off the pace, as expected, given that this was his first league start after joining as a free agent in the summer. He only touched the ball 10 times and didn’t have a single shot on goal, which is so poor regardless.
Crysencio Summerville – 5
Ineffective. Failed to create a chance all afternoon and struggled to help Diouf out when tasked with tracking back.
Substitutes
Niclas Fullkrug (on for Wilson 59′) – 4
Did very little to prove that he deserves to start over Wilson. Looked nearly as unfit as him despite being a mainstay in Potter’s side before this game.
Soungoutou Magassa (on for Fernandes 78′) – 5
Magassa joined West Ham from Monaco last month with numerous suitors from across Europe, but he did not show his talent here as he could hardly get on the ball in some scrappy latter stages.
Luis Guilherme (on for Summerville 78′) – 5
Similarly ineffective to Summerville as he only had three touches in nearly 20 minutes and failed to test Dean Henderson with a wild shot in added time.