West Ham United were absolutely torn apart by Crystal Palace in their Premier League clash at Selhurst Park, with the South Londoners running out 5-2 winners after an embarrassing performance from the Hammers.
Fresh from a closely contested European battle against Bayer Leverkusen that ended in heartbreak, many were expecting the Hammers to build on the promising performance and push for a top-seven finish.
However, a rampant first-half performance from Palace saw them obliterate an ageing and tired West Ham squad – a result that may as well spell the end for David Moyes.
The Eagles dominated from the get-go, forcing the Hammers into a defensive shell. Just seven minutes in, Michael Olise headed home a floated cross from Joachim Andersen.
The lead only intensified Palace’s attacking zeal, and Eberechi Eze doubled their advantage with a bicycle kick.
However, Oliver Glasner’s rampant men weren’t done there. Just after the half-hour mark, they doubled their lead thanks to an own goal by Emerson Palmieri and a clinical finish from Jean-Philippe Mateta.
On his 693rd Premier League game, this was the earliest a Moyes-managed side had ever found themselves trailing by four goals in a match.
Just before halftime, West Ham found a flicker of hope. Michail Antonio managed to poke the ball home from close range against the run of play.
However, that reprieve was short-lived as Eze once again turned provider, setting up Mateta for his second goal of the afternoon in the second half.
West Ham managed a late consolation courtesy of a Dean Henderson own goal, but it did little to assuage the horror show from the Hammers.
Make no mistake, this defeat is on Moyes. Regardless of the spirited display against Leverkusen, the drubbing in South London may be the final nail in his coffin.
Moyes has consistently advocated for a smaller squad, even reiterating this stance before the Palace clash. But it contradicts his constant complaints about player fatigue in the second half of the season.
Moyes doesn’t trust his fringe players, meaning they’re unprepared and lacking any rhythm when called upon.
As a consequence, he continues to rely on the same 13-14 players, a vicious cycle fueled by a lack of quality options that has led to his downfall.
This is a squad Moyes has built over the years and a bunch of them are unfit to wear the Hammers shirt.
With a testing run to the end of the season, including games against title-chasing duo Liverpool and Manchester City, we’d be lucky to finish in the top half of the table.
It’s disheartening that the Moyes era has to end this way. The Scotsman is a legend of the club, but he has been the architect of his own demise, and his exit may not be quite as dignified as it should be.
