West Ham United endured a frustrating afternoon at the London Stadium, falling to a 2-0 defeat against Crystal Palace in a game that exposed their defensive frailties and lack of cutting edge. The match turned on a few key moments, notably the penalty decision awarded against goalkeeper Łukasz Fabiański, who was adjudged to have brought down Eddie Nketiah in the second half. The incident came as Crystal Palace pressed for a second goal, and Jean-Philippe Mateta made no mistake from the spot to double their lead.

Former Premier League referee Keith Hackett has weighed in on the controversial decision, stating that referee Thomas Bramhall was correct to award the penalty. Speaking exclusively to West Ham Zone, Hackett explained: “Referee Thomas Bramhall was in a good position to award a penalty kick to Crystal Palace. The West Ham goalkeeper clearly brought down the Crystal Palace forward.” Fabiański’s decision to commit in such an aggressive manner proved costly, as he made no contact with the ball and instead caught Nketiah, leaving no room for doubt.

Fabiański’s performance came under further scrutiny after he was also at fault for Mateta’s first goal. The Palace forward capitalized on a lapse in judgment from the goalkeeper, who seemed slow to react to a well-placed shot. It was an uncharacteristic display from the experienced shot-stopper, who appeared visibly frustrated with himself. Even Fabiański refrained from protesting the penalty decision, signaling his acknowledgment of his error.

The defeat was a stark contrast to the excitement of West Ham’s midweek 3-2 victory over Fulham. Against Palace, the Hammers lacked cohesion, composure, and energy. Compounding their struggles was Konstantinos Mavropanos’ early red card, which left them with a numerical disadvantage and further tilted the game in Palace’s favor. Manager Graham Potter did not mince his words in his post-match analysis, admitting that the performance fell far below expectations and was reminiscent of the inconsistency that has plagued West Ham under his tenure.

Crystal Palace, on the other hand, were clinical in their execution. Jean-Philippe Mateta emerged as the hero of the day with his brace, demonstrating the quality and decisiveness that West Ham sorely lacked. Palace’s ability to capitalize on mistakes and remain disciplined defensively underlined their growing confidence under Roy Hodgson.

For West Ham, the loss raises familiar questions about their ability to maintain momentum and turn promising performances into consistent results. Potter will undoubtedly be concerned about his team’s lack of fight and their vulnerability when faced with adversity. With Aston Villa up next, the manager has a full week to reflect on the defeat and address the issues that were so apparent against Palace.

Fabiański, in particular, will need to improve after a difficult afternoon. His decision-making and confidence will need to be at their best against an Aston Villa side that has shown attacking prowess this season. Meanwhile, the entire team must find a way to recover their rhythm and avoid the kind of self-inflicted errors that defined this loss.

This result serves as a reminder that, while West Ham have shown glimpses of potential under Potter, they remain a team in need of greater consistency and resilience. Failure to address these issues quickly could derail their season and leave them struggling to meet their ambitions.