MATCH PREVIEW // WEST HAM AIM FOR THIRD CONSECUTIVE LEAGUE WINS AGAINST PALACE

A second game at London Stadium this week and West Ham are aiming to earn a third-straight Premier League win, in a London Derby against Crystal Palace.

 

The Hammers have scored six goals and conceded one in wins at Newcastle and over Cardiff City, but will be without joint top scorer Marko Arnautovic this weekend.

 

The man who replaced him on Tuesday night, Lucas Perez, will be itching to add to his brace in mid-week, Manuel Pellegrini insists he must make the most of his chance in the team.

 

“We know Lucas and we know he is a good striker but for other reasons he couldn’t start playing in the other games. But the important thing is, when he has the chance, he takes the chance,” said Pellegrini.

“Now with the long injury to Marko we have in that position also Andy Carroll, who is recovering from his injury. We have Lucas Perez, we have Javier Hernandez, we have Xande Silva, who is another young player. I hope all of them will help us in the absence of Marko.”

Carroll is another forward who can make an impression with the injuries to the squad, now he has overcome his own injury problems.

“For the moment, I think he can be a very important substitute. We know what he can give to our team. Near the box, he is dangerous. The other day, in 15 minutes, he had two shots and a header,” said Pellegrini.

“All the other defenders must be worried when they see Andy near their box. He can give a lot of important things for our team.”

But in order to beat their local rivals, Pellegrini believes they must perform well as a unit to combat their threats, like Wilfried Zaha, Andros Townsend and Patrick Van Aanholt.

“As I always say to the players, we need a performance. If we don’t have high individual performances then it is very difficult to beat a team.”

“After that, we have to play as a team. Without the ball, try to defend in the correct position, and with the ball try to play and try to score.

“I am happy because we are improving. You must never be 100 per cent happy with the performance because you always need things to improve. With football, the result or the score change with two or three balls. We are improving and, I said always since the first game of the season, we are in the correct place to change the style of play."

In team news, Jack Wilshere and Aaron Cresswell won’t return in time and are due to be fit for their trip to Fulham. Crystal Palace have no new injuries with ex-Hammers James Tomkins and Cheick Kouyate returning to their old club. 

West Ham are unbeaten in six games with Palace, drawing 1-1 here last season, whilst the Eagles have just one win in their last nine Premier League games.