West Ham managed to cling onto a two‑point advantage over Tottenham and keep clear of the bottom three after a goalless stalemate against Crystal Palace, a result that also sealed Wolves' demotion from the Premier League. The 0‑0 draw at Selhurst Park meant that after eight seasons in the top flight, Wolves became the first club this campaign to be consigned to the Championship. Tottenham endured a testing weekend, yet the point they earned against Palace opens a narrow pathway for Roberto De Zerbi's side in their own survival fight as they head to Wolves on Saturday. The Hammers, meanwhile, have bought themselves an extra week outside the relegation zone, but many observers will argue that they missed a golden opportunity, especially after seeing Nottingham Forest and Leeds United claim victories and watching Spurs make a noticeable step forward in their performance.
According to Opta, West Ham face the toughest run‑in of any club battling at the foot of the table. Their upcoming schedule includes fixtures against Everton, Brentford, Arsenal, Newcastle United and Leeds United – all teams with ambitions either to qualify for Europe or to challenge for the title. This means the Hammers must maintain a high level of consistency if they hope to stay safe. In the second half, Nuno Espírito Santo’s side struggled to create a clear opening and were lucky not to concede a late goal.
Ismaila Sarr saw a potential winner ruled out for a handball by Crystal Palace substitute Jean‑Philippe Mateta, an incident that sparked debate over the decision. Earlier, West Ham’s Taty Castellanos produced an acrobatic effort that seemed destined for the net, only for Palace defender Maxence Lacroix – who had just returned from an injury scare – to clear the ball. Dean Henderson’s punch on a cross nearly left the goal wide open, but he quickly redeemed himself with a fine reflex save to deny Konstantinos Mavropanos.
Mavropanos, who had scored twice in West Ham’s earlier victory over Wolves, was a constant threat, though his header in this match drifted too close to Henderson for a clean finish. Former Tottenham winger Brennan Johnson, still searching for his first goal since his £35 million move in January, missed a clear chance to put Palace ahead, heading wide from an unmarked position inside the box.
Oliver Glasner’s Palace side, despite the celebrations in Florence after reaching the Conference League semi‑finals, showed resilience and extended their unbeaten run to four games, climbing to 13th place in the league. The match line‑ups were as follows: Crystal Palace – Henderson (7), Muñoz (6), Richards (7), Lacroix (7), Canvot (8), Mitchell (7), Hughes (6), Lerma (6), Johnson (5), Pino (6), Strand Larsen (4). Substitutes: Kamada (7), Sarr (6), Mateta (6), Devenny (6).
West Ham – Hermansen (7); Walker‑Peters (7), Mavropanos (7), Disasi (7), Diouf (7); Soucek (6), Fernandes (7); Bowen (6), Pablo (5), Summerville (6); Castellanos (6). Subs: Wilson (5), Kante (5).
Player of the Match was Jaydee Canvot of Palace. West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen told Sky Sports: “It’s probably a bit of both. Palace are strong at home and buoyed by their European run. We knew it would be a tough test and that we needed to defend well.
We had chances that could have gone in on another day. We came here to win, but a point isn’t the worst outcome.” Former Hammers striker Dean Ashton added: “It feels like a tiny opportunity missed for West Ham given how Palace played and how we performed in the first half. We had enough chances in the box to score. But Palace away is never easy, so a point is still a positive result.” Nuno Espírito Santo reflected on his side’s performance: “We were organised and compact.
It was a tough match. Our attacking combinations didn’t click – the final ball, the final touch were lacking. The game was very balanced; they are a strong side and hard to break down, especially on the counter‑attack.
We stayed solid and will keep fighting until the end. This season has been tight at both ends of the table.” Palace manager Oliver Glasner explained his team’s mindset: “Maybe they expected us to be fatigued, but I told the players the answer had to come from them. It’s not about what I want; it’s about the players showing focus, commitment and a willingness to work hard until the final whistle.” Sky Sports analyst Zinny Boswell noted that whether West Ham truly missed a chance will only be clear on the final day, especially if Nuno’s prediction about a tight season proves accurate. The reality for the Hammers is that Tottenham will celebrate their draw at Palace, and timing of points remains crucial in a relegation battle.
Spurs may have failed to win, but they displayed clear improvement before Brighton’s late equaliser. Had West Ham turned the draw into a win, they would have stretched their lead to four points and pushed Tottenham into a precarious position that only five teams in Premier League history have survived. Instead, the Hammers could still find themselves out of the drop zone on Saturday, while Spurs travel to already‑relegated Wolves – arguably their best chance for a first league win of 2026 – and West Ham face Everton, who are pushing for European qualification.
Both matches kick off at 3 pm, and the potential momentum shift adds enormous significance to the relegation fight. West Ham’s upcoming fixtures are notably tougher, with opponents either fighting for European spots or contending for the title, and all eight of their league victories this season have come against clubs currently in the bottom half of the table. Predicting Tottenham’s performance is speculative, but once they secure a win, a psychological weight will be lifted. West Ham can only hope that such a breakthrough does not happen on Saturday, as it would tighten the battle at the bottom even further.
In summary, the goalless draw at Selhurst Park gave West Ham a brief respite but also highlighted the fine margins that separate survival from relegation. Wolves’ descent marks a sobering moment for a club that spent eight years in the top tier, while the Hammers must now navigate a demanding run of fixtures if they wish to cement their safety before the season’s climax.