West Ham United managed to cling onto a two‑point advantage over Tottenham Hotspur and the other clubs fighting to avoid the drop after a 0‑0 stalemate at Crystal Palace, a result that also sealed Wolverhampton Wanderers' fate as the first Premier League side to be relegated this season after an eight‑year spell in the top flight. Tottenham endured a challenging weekend, yet the draw at Selhurst Park keeps Roberto De Zerbi's men alive in their survival bid as they prepare for an upcoming clash with Wolves on Saturday. For the Wolves, the defeat at Palace confirms the end of their Premier League campaign, making them the earliest relegated team of the campaign. While West Ham have secured another week outside the relegation zone, the outcome could be viewed as a lost opportunity.
Their rivals Nottingham Forest and Leeds United both secured victories, and Tottenham made a noticeable step forward in performance, widening the gap between the Hammers and the teams above them. According to Opta, West Ham face the most demanding run-in among the clubs battling relegation, with fixtures against Everton, Brentford, Arsenal, Newcastle United and Leeds United still to come. The difficulty of those matches underscores the importance of turning every point into a win. In the second half, Nuno Espírito Santo's side struggled to create a clear opening and came close to conceding a late goal when Ismaila Sarr’s effort was ruled out for a handball by Palace substitute Jean‑Philippe Mateta, a decision that sparked debate among fans and pundits alike.
Earlier, in the closing stages of the first half, West Ham forward Taty Castellanos unleashed an acrobatic shot that appeared destined for the net, only to be cleared by Palace defender Maxence Lacroix, who had returned to the starting line‑up after overcoming an injury scare. The clearance came after a mis‑timed punch from goalkeeper Dean Henderson left the goal exposed.
Henderson quickly redeemed himself, producing a sharp reflex save to deny Konstantinos Mavropanos a close‑range header. Mavropanos, who had scored twice in West Ham’s previous win over Wolves, perhaps could have done better, as his header was too close to the keeper for a clear chance. Former Tottenham winger Brennan Johnson, still searching for his first goal since his £35 million move in January, missed a golden opportunity to give Palace an early lead, heading a well‑placed ball wide despite being completely unmarked inside the box.
Despite the talk of Palace potentially losing momentum after their celebratory trip to Florence for the Conference League semi‑finals, Oliver Glasner’s side finished stronger, extending their unbeaten run to four games and climbing to 13th place in the table. Team 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). Substitutes: Wilson (5), Kante (5). Player of the Match was awarded to Jaydee Canvot of Crystal Palace.
West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen told Sky Sports: "It’s probably a bit of both. Palace are really good at home and on a high after getting into a European semi‑final. We knew it was going to be really difficult and that we’d have to defend really well.
We did have some chances that on another day could go in. We came here to win the game, but I don’t think a point here is the worst thing in the world." Former Hammers striker Dean Ashton added his perspective: "It feels like a tiny opportunity missed for West Ham with the way Crystal Palace played, and even the way we played in the first half. They had enough chances in the box to get that goal.
But Palace away is not an easy fixture, so right now it has to be a positive result." Manager Nuno Espírito Santo reflected on the performance: "We performed well. We were organised and compact. Tough match.
Our offensive process, the combinations didn’t quite click – the final ball, the final touch. The game was very balanced.
It’s a tough shape to play against. It’s brought them a lot of success. They’re good players, you cannot find the gaps. They are a threat on the counter‑attack.
We were solid. It’s going to be a fight until the end.
It will go all the way, for sure. Not only at the bottom of the table but at the top. This season has been very tight." Oliver Glasner, Palace’s manager, praised his squad: "Maybe they were expecting us to be a little bit fatigued and not focused, and I told the players, ‘It’s you who have to give the answer’.
It’s not important what I want, it’s the players, and I think they showed it. They gave the right answer that yes, they are focused, that they are committed, that they are really willing to work hard until the end." Sky Sports analyst Zinny Boswell noted that whether this match represents a missed chance for West Ham will only be clear on the final day of the season, especially if Nuno’s prediction about a tight finish proves accurate. The reality for the Hammers is that Tottenham will be celebrating their draw at Palace.
In a relegation battle, timing of points is crucial. While Spurs failed to secure a win, there were clear signs of improvement before Brighton’s late equaliser. A win for West Ham would have pushed them four points clear and placed Tottenham in a position from which only five teams in Premier League history have survived.
Looking ahead, Tottenham travel to already‑relegated Wolves, a match that could finally deliver their first league win of 2026. West Ham, on the other hand, face Everton, who are chasing European qualification. Both fixtures kick off at 3 pm, and the potential momentum shift makes them pivotal in the fight for survival. West Ham’s upcoming schedule is arguably the toughest of any relegation‑threatened side, with games against clubs either fighting for European spots or contesting the title race.
Notably, all eight of West Ham’s league victories this season have come against teams currently positioned in the bottom half of the table, highlighting a reliance on lower‑ranked opposition for points. Predicting Tottenham’s performance against Wolves is a gamble, but securing a win would lift a significant weight off their shoulders. For West Ham, the hope is that Tottenham’s breakthrough does not come on Saturday, as that could tighten the relegation scramble even further. The Premier League table continues to shift, and every point gained or dropped will shape the final outcomes for clubs at both ends of the spectrum.
The battle for survival remains intense, and fans will be watching closely as the season draws to its dramatic conclusion.