‘We don’t look for excuses’ – Oliver Glasner dismisses that transfer speculation played role in Crystal Palace’s defeat to West Ham

Oliver Glasner dismissed that transfer speculation about the Crystal Palace squad played a role in their 2-0 defeat at home to West Ham on Saturday afternoon.

Palace nearly put themselves ahead early on – Odsonne Edouard and Eberechi Eze both going close in the opening 18 minutes.

Eberechi Eze, who wrongly had a free-kick ruled out in the defeat at Brentford last weekend, came closest to putting either side in front minutes before half-time when he collected a corner on the edge of the box and smashed an effort off Alphonse Areola’s crossbar.

The Irons took the lead in the 67th minute when former Eagles defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka linked up with Jarrod Bowen. The ball eventually fell to Tomas Soucek in the box to slot past a crowd of Palace bodies.

West Ham doubled their lead four minutes later and wrapped up the game when Max Kilman cut open Palace’s defence with a simple pass, with Bowen driving inside the area and finishing past Dean Henderson.

The Eagles have suffered back-to-back defeats under Glasner at the start of the 2024-25 Premier League season.

“It’s disappointing because it’s the second game where we were not the worst team.

“Small situations decided the game. We had very good opportunities in the first half – we didn’t score. 

“The second half, we were good in the game. They didn’t have chance after chance. But in both transition momentum, we didn’t defend well.

“It’s the Premier League so we get punished for this at the moment – it hurts.

“But it’s the reality.”

The Eagles sold Joachim Andersen to Fulham and Jordan Ayew to Leicester this week. 

There has also been speculation about Sam Johnstone, Eberechi Eze, Jean-Philippe Mateta and Odsonee Edouard this summer.

“It would be easy [to say that], but it doesn’t help us,” said Glasner when asked if speculation played a role in the defeat.

“We don’t look for excuses. We had enough situations to score today. But in these two situations where we conceded the goals, we didn’t defend well enough.

“For the first goal, we lost the ball on their 18-yard box. In the end, without winning any dual, they are in our box. 

“We had many situations where we could have cleared it, but it didn’t. 

“It was our fault. We have to improve.”

PICTURES: KEITH GILLARD