Preview - Crystal Palace

The background

West Ham United kick-off a run of three straight home games on Saturday when they welcome London rivals Crystal Palace to the Boleyn Ground.
 
Fresh from the final international break of the season, West Ham will hope to move into the top four with victory over the out-of-form Eagles.
 
Palace are without a league win in 2016, but have performed better in the FA Cup, booking a Wembley date with Watford by defeating Reading in the last round.
 
Alan Pardew’s men were riding high at Christmas, but are now nervously looking over their shoulders as the gap between them at the bottom three narrows.
 
West Ham, meanwhile, are unbeaten in five league matches and will be hopeful of continuing their push for Europe on Saturday.

The history 

West Ham have only met Palace 33 times in Premier League, Football League and FA Cup action.
 
The Hammers hold the upper hand, with 15 victories to Palace’s seven – and it wasn’t until 1992 that the south Londoners managed to get the better of their cross-city rivals.
 
In recent times, however, Palace’s fortunes have improved – in E13 at least.  West Ham have won at Selhurst Park on both of their last two visits, a feat also achieved by Palace at the Boleyn Ground.
 
Last season, a Glenn Murray double was added to by Scott Dann to seal a 3-1 victory for the Eagles.

The match 

Team news

West Ham United

James Tomkins returns to the fold after being missing since early February with a calf problem.
 
However, fellow defenders Sam Byram and James Collins miss out with injuries.

Crystal Palace 

The Eagles will monitor the fitness of injury doubts Mile Jedinak, Yohan Cabaye and Emmanuel Adebayor.
 
Connor Wickham, James McArthur and one-time Hammers loanee Marouane Chamakh are all out.

Match info

• Saturday’s referee is Mark Clattenburg. The Tyne and Wear official has overseen 37 games this season, issuing 118 yellow cards and five red cards. He will be assisted by Simon Beck and Jake Collin. Dean Whitestone is the fourth official.
• The previous four meetings between these sides have produced away wins - with the last three ending in 3-1 scorelines.
• The Hammers' last home win against Palace was in a second tier match in October 2003, when Neil Mellor netted twice in a 3-0 victory.
• The Hammers are unbeaten in 12 successive Premier League home games (W7, D5) - their best run since a 14-match streak in the 1997/98 season.
• Dimitri Payet has created 221 goalscoring chances since the start of last season, more than any other player in the top five European leagues in that time.
• Palace are the only side in the top seven tiers of English football without a league win in 2016.
• The Eagles have won just one of their six Premier League London derbies this season, losing five of those matches.

Ticketing, travel, coverage and other info

• Tickets for this match have SOLD OUT, but may become available online as Season Ticket Holders relist.
• The District and Hammersmith & City lines are set to serve Upton Park station as normal on Saturday. Click here for the latest Tube information and here for National Rail.
• A sunny afternoon is anticipated on Saturday, with highs of 14C (57F).
• If you’re not heading to the game, make sure you keep up to date with the action on our digital channels. The whufc.com Match Centre will have live audio commentary, in-running stats, photos and more, while you can get involved in the conversation on social using #WHUCRY