West Ham Rises Above Relegation Zone After Draw at Palace
Synopsis
In a tense match at Selhurst Park, West Ham United secured a crucial point against Crystal Palace, maintaining a two-point buffer above the relegation zone while confirming Wolverhampton Wanderers' drop to the Championship.
Key Takeaways
West Ham United is now two points clear of the relegation zone.
Wolverhampton Wanderers has been relegated to the Championship.
The match ended in a goalless draw at Selhurst Park.
Both teams had missed opportunities to score.
VAR played a crucial role in disallowing a potential winner for Crystal Palace.
London, April 21 (NationPress) West Ham United has moved two points away from the relegation zone in the Premier League following a goalless stalemate against Crystal Palace, confirming Wolverhampton Wanderers' relegation to the Championship. West Ham currently occupies the 17th position with 33 points, while Wolves are at the bottom with no chance of survival, and Palace stands 13th with 43 points.
Nuno Espirito Santo's team was aware that a win could have created a four-point cushion over Tottenham Hotspur, but they had to accept a draw after a tightly contested match at Selhurst Park.
In the first half, both teams missed good opportunities, with Brennan Johnson failing to convert two chances for Palace, while Dean Henderson made a crucial save to keep Konstantinos Mavropanos from scoring at the opposite end, according to Premier League reports.
Palace thought they had scored in the 82nd minute when Ismaila Sarr netted, but the goal was ruled out for a handball by Jean-Philippe Mateta, a fellow substitute, during the buildup.
Johnson missed a chance with a header that went wide from Jefferson Lerma's delivery, and shortly after, the former Spurs player shot wide from long range.
Axel Disasi was saved by the offside flag when he misfired, and West Ham wasted two golden opportunities to go ahead before halftime.
Maxence Lacroix made a key block after Henderson's poorly timed punch set up Valentin Castellanos for an overhead kick, while the Palace keeper also thwarted a powerful header from Mavropanos.
West Ham continued to push for a goal after the break, yet their appeals for a penalty were turned down when Castellanos was brought down after navigating past Jaydee Canvot.
Substitutes Mateta and Sarr were brought on as Oliver Glasner made tactical changes, and it seemed they had set up a late winner.
However, referee Darren England ruled that Mateta had used his arm to redirect the ball to his teammate, and after a VAR review, the goal was disallowed.
Point of View
It’s clear West Ham United has managed to create a small buffer against relegation. While the draw at Crystal Palace is not a victory, it helps maintain their position above the drop zone. Wolverhampton’s relegation adds to the weight of this match, emphasizing the stakes involved.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the outcome of the West Ham vs. Palace match?
The match ended in a goalless draw, allowing West Ham to stay two points clear of the relegation zone.
Which team was confirmed to be relegated?
Wolverhampton Wanderers was confirmed to be relegated to the Championship.
What position does West Ham currently hold?
West Ham currently sits in 17th place in the Premier League.
Who had a goal disallowed in the match?
Ismaila Sarr of Crystal Palace had a goal disallowed due to a handball in the buildup.
What were the chances created in the match?
Both teams missed several chances, with notable saves and missed opportunities on both sides.
