LONDON :Jean-Philippe Mateta scored twice in the second half as Crystal Palace completed a 2-0 Premier League away win at a toothless West Ham United on Saturday, more evidence for new manager Graham Potter of the difficult job he faces in east London.
Palace broke from their own box and within three touches Eberechi Eze’s pass to the feet of Mateta set the striker clear and he drilled the ball low into the goal, before adding a late second from the penalty spot.
West Ham’s poor afternoon was compounded by a second yellow card for Konstantinos Mavropanos 10 minutes from time following his high boot into the face of Mateta, giving referee Thomas Bramall an easy decision to make.
Palace climbed to 12th place in the table with 27 points from 22 games, above West Ham, who are in 14th with 26.
West Ham did not have a shot on target in the 90 minutes and looked devoid of ideas as the visitors comfortably held them at bay in a clinical display.
“I don’t think we could ever really get full control in the game,” Potter said. “We struggled to create and sustain as many attacks as we would like.
“The better team won on the day and we have a lot to improve and we will do that by sticking together.”
Palace have lost once in their last 11 Premier League games and are now unbeaten away from home in seven.
They also broke their barren run in London derbies, having failed to win any of the previous 13, since beating West Ham in November 2022.
Palace hit the front inside three minutes of the second half as Mateta finished off a sweeping move with a fine finish.
It took West Ham until the 70th minute to create anything of note in the final third, but Danny Ings’ shot was blocked and that was as good as it got for them.
When Mavropanos was sent off their task was made ever harder and West Ham goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski’s foul on an onrushing Eddie Nketiah led to a penalty a minute from the end.
Fabianski nearly saved Mateta’s low effort, but the ball squirmed under his body and into the net.
“It’s big progress,” Palace manager Oliver Glasner said. “We talked about it at the beginning of the season when we struggled with different things but it is a great group to work with, they always listen.
“It’s still January but for us, it is about staying humble and keeping to try and get the result.”
