Crystal Palace’s narrow 1–0 win over West Ham United at the London Stadium might look like a turning point on paper, but a closer look reveals more questions than answers about the team’s attacking firepower. Roy Hodgson’s side secured all three points through a well-taken goal in the second half, grinding out a result in the classic Palace fashion — disciplined, compact, and clinical when it mattered most. Yet, beneath the surface of that result lies a persistent issue that could derail their ambitions as the season progresses: the lack of attacking depth and creativity.
Palace’s approach was pragmatic from the start, ceding possession and focusing on defensive shape. West Ham dominated large spells of the match, but Palace stayed patient, waiting for an opportunity to break on the counter. That moment came midway through the second half when Eberechi Eze’s clever footwork opened space for Odsonne Édouard to find the back of the net. It was a rare glimpse of attacking fluidity, but one that underlined how reliant Palace have become on individual brilliance rather than sustained offensive pressure.
The win moves Palace into the top half of the table, but Hodgson will be aware that results like this cannot be sustained without a more consistent attacking plan. Injuries to key forwards such as Michael Olise and the limited rotation options available on the bench have left Palace short of ideas when Édouard or Jordan Ayew are contained. West Ham, despite enjoying superior possession, were never really put under sustained threat aside from the goal. For Palace, this is a worrying sign — in the Premier League, relying on a single moment of magic every week is a dangerous game.
The lack of depth was most evident late in the match. Protecting a narrow lead, Palace had no attacking substitutes capable of stretching West Ham on the break or relieving pressure. Hodgson was forced to make defensive-minded changes, essentially inviting the home side to pour forward. It took resolute defending from Joachim Andersen and Marc Guéhi to preserve the clean sheet, along with a couple of key saves from Sam Johnstone. While the defensive effort deserves credit, it also highlighted how Palace are too often forced to dig in because they cannot kill games off with a second goal.
January could be decisive for Palace’s season. If the board invests in an additional forward or creative midfielder, Hodgson will have the tools to build on hard-fought wins like this one. Without reinforcements, though, Palace risk slipping back into a relegation scrap should injuries or suspensions pile up.
For now, Palace fans will celebrate a valuable three points against a tough opponent, but the underlying concern remains. The victory masked the team’s limited attacking options and dependence on a handful of creative players. If the Eagles want to transform from a mid-table survivor into a genuine top-half contender, they will need more than just grit and defensive organization — they will need goals, and that means finding solutions to their attacking depth problem before it becomes too late.
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