Crystal Palace were beaten by Bristol City while West Ham triumphed over Tottenham in very differing Carabao Cup results.
West Ham United’s Angelo Ogbonna (2L) celebrates with teammates after scoring the team’s third goal during the English League Cup fourth round football match against Tottenham Hotspur.
Ahead of what is already being billed as a potential ‘relegation six-pointer’ opponents Crystal Palace and West Ham United are likely to be going into their clash in very different moods.
Neither London club has started the new season well, with the Eagles’ 1-0 defeat at Newcastle United last weekend their eighth in nine Premier League matches to leave them rooted to the bottom of the table.
Players of Crystal Palace looks dejected during the Carabao Cup Fourth Round match against Bristol City.
The Hammers started the campaign equally badly and although a slight upturn in form moved them to five points ahead of Saturday’s (October 28) hosts, they were beaten 3-0 at home by newly promoted Brighton and Hove Albion in their last league outing.
Yet a midweek showing in the Carabao Cup could have wildly different effects on these two teams ahead of their meeting at Selhurst Park and, in truth, it should favour the Hammers.
West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic gestures during the English League Cup fourth round football match against Tottenham Hotspur.
On Tuesday (October 24), Palace faced Championship side Bristol City in the last-16 and despite taking the lead at Ashton Gate were soundly beaten 4-1 in a performance devoid of confidence and manager Roy Hodgson told Sky Sports afterwards: “I am disappointed by the way at the end we capitulated after at least for the first 45 minutes having had arguably the better of the game.
“We contrived to give away goals at important times, and in the end we are on the back of a heavy defeat.”
The following evening there was a completely different atmosphere at full-time for Slaven Bilic’s men, who came from 2-0 down against Tottenham Hotspur to beat the home side 3-2 at Wembley Stadium.
“This should be the standard from us in terms of competitiveness, team play and fighting for the team,” Bilic was quoted by the Guardian. “Some games you will lose but I am quite positive now. We improved a lot and we should use this as a standard from here.”
Morale taken from these two very differing results and displays could have a significant effect on the game in South London.
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