It is difficult to overstate the importance of West Ham United’s clash against Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Monday night.
Right now, West Ham United have all the momentum in their battle with Tottenham – assuming Nottingham Forest and Leeds are now safe – to avoid relegation.
Any changes to this team? I wouldn’t drop KWP any time soon 👀
Still, West Ham face a very difficult game against Palace, and failing to claim three points would give Spurs hope in their battle to beat the drop.
Ahead of the crunch clash at Selhurst Park, Palace defender Chris Richards admits the Irons are on a hot streak – though is hoping to spoil the party for them.
Richards wants to stop West Ham momentum
Speaking to News Hopper, the American international said: “West Ham are a team fighting for their survival.
“They’ve cut a hot streak as of late, so hopefully we can cool it down a little bit.”
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Palace are a very tricky customer and have a good record against the Irons in recent years. Nothing is to be taken for granted here, with Richards and his team more than capable of claiming a positive result.
Equally, West Ham’s form since mid-January has been so good that an away victory simply cannot be discounted.
To describe West Ham’s current situation as anything like a party atmosphere would be wrong. There is still a huge amount of pressure, and nothing has yet been achieved.
Still, three points on Monday night would be huge at the bottom of the table. That would be a statement of intent, piling the pressure on Spurs even despite their improved performance against Brighton.
If West Ham do not claim anything from Monday’s clash, it puts a huge amount of pressure on them ahead of a very difficult game against Everton on Saturday.
Spurs, after all, are playing Wolves – a game many will be expecting them to win.
Things are in West Ham’s favour right now but it’s a fine balancing act. The margins are so tight that every point matters.
