West Ham United 1 (Haller 54) v Crystal Palace 2 (Van Aanholt 63 pen, Ayew 87) at The London Stadium, attendance 59,912, playe d5 Otober 2019.
Despite West Ham’s pre-match confidence and manager Manuel Pellegrini’s post-match feeling that “they had done enough” (to win), it was the Eagles who were in the ascendancy and soared above their PLDs rivals to fourth in the F.A. Premier League table. Palace under Roy Hodgson are a very well drilled team, with a renewed Gary Cahill as Captain in the absence of the suspended Luka Milivojevic. After the best move of the game which resulted in Sebastian Haller putting the Hammers ahead, it was another stand-in for another of Milivojevic’s roles, Patrick Van Aanholt, who fired home a penalty to equalize. There was no need for V.A.R. for that decision, although Declan Rice’s handball for the penalty last season might have been judged accidental. However V.A.R. did have the final word allowing Jordan Ayew’s late winner for Palace, which had been flagged offside by the actual living Referee’s Assistant (one time aka “Linesman”) on review.
There are no PLDs this weekend being Internationals again. The next is on 26 October when Crystal Palace are away to Arsenal for Palace’s 100th F.A. Premier League London derby. On 19 October beleaguered Tottenham play Watford at home, and will this be Pochettino’s last game in charge? Who would have thought that possible to even think of in June?
Until next time, enjoy your football, Andrew at PLDs.