Crystal Palace match preview

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Dylan Tombides

West Ham United announce the sad news that forward Dylan Tombides has passed away at the age of 20 following his brave battle with cancer.

Dylan passed away on Friday morning with his family by his side having courageously fought the disease for three years after initially being diagnosed with testicular cancer in summer 2011. 

He remained a regular visitor to Chadwell Heath throughout his treatment and his positive attitude and professional approach to his football and training always impressed and boosted his team-mates and coaches alike.

Dylan's amazing resilience and positivity saw him through months of surgery and chemotherapy, while his outstanding talent saw him make his first-team debut in a League Cup tie with Wigan Athletic at the Boleyn Ground in September 2012.

Away from the pitch, Dylan did a huge amount of work to raise awareness of male cancer, supporting the One for the Boys campaign at a number of high-profile events alongside the likes of Hollywood star Samuel L. Jackson, snooker star Jimmy White and fellow Australian Peter Andre.

Dylan was respected by everyone who knew him for his intelligent views on the game and his larger than life character. He was a loving son, amazing brother and well-respected member of the West Ham squad. He will be hugely missed by everyone who had the honour of knowing him.

His passing will be marked by a minute's applause ahead of today's Barclays Premier League fixture with Crystal Palace at the Boleyn Ground. The Hammers' players will also wear black armbands in his memory.

The thoughts of everyone associated with the Club are with his parents Tracylee and Jim, brother Taylor, his family and friends at this sad time. The Club request that their privacy is now respected and they are allowed to grieve their much loved son and brother in peace.

Introduction

• West Ham United face their second London derby in succession on Saturday when Crystal Palace make the short journey to the Boleyn Ground, following Tuesday's 3-1 defeat at Arsenal.

• The Hammers put in a good performance before the break at the Emirates Stadium to take the lead through Matt Jarvis, but Arsenal came roaring back to win thanks to Lukas Podolski's double and an Olivier Giroud strike.

• That meant West Ham have lost their last two fixtures, although they have put up a fight in defeat to both Liverpool and the Gunners.

• Sam Allardyce's men last tasted victory on 31 March when they saw off Sunderland 2-1 at the Stadium of Light with goals from Andy Carroll and Mohamed Diame.

• Palace have been in terrific form and moved above the Hammers in the table on Wednesday when they pulled off a surprise 3-2 win at Everton - their fourth in succession.

• The Eagles have enjoyed a new lease of life under the management of Tony Pulis and are now almost certainly safe for another season of Barclays Premier League football

Team news

West Ham United

• The Hammers welcome Joey O'Brien, James Collins and Kevin Nolan back into their squad following shoulder, calf and shoulder injuries respectively.

• Marco Borriello remains sidelined with a calf problem.

Crystal Palace

• Crystal Palace have a number of injury concerns, with Marouane Chamakh, Joel Ward and Yannick Bolasie all doubtful ahead of the trip to West Ham.

• Defender Adrian Mariappa sustained a broken nose in the win over Everton but he is expected to be available.

Background

• The first meeting between West Ham United and Crystal Palace was a Southern League First Division fixture played at The Crystal Palace on 29 September 1906. A 10,000-strong crowd turned out to see a 1-1 draw, with Arthur Winterhalder on target for the Hammers.

• The two clubs met in the Division One Play-Off final at the Millennium Stadium on 29 May 2004. Neil Shipperley's goal gave the Eagles a 1-0 victory and secured their promotion to the Premier League.

• The largest crowd to watch a Crystal Palace versus West Ham United fixture at Selhurst Park is the 41,540 who witnessed the Hammers' 3-0 victory in south London on 30 October 1971. That result also marked West Ham's largest-ever success at the home of the Eagles. However, West Ham also recorded an 8-1 win at Palace during the First World War and a 6-1 win in south London during the Second World War.

• West Ham's biggest home win over Crystal Palace since the two clubs joined the Football League was a 4-0 Division One win at the Boleyn Ground on 28 October 1972, when Trevor Brooking (two), John McDowell and Bryan 'Pop' Robson scored in front of 28,894 fans.

• West Ham United defeated Crystal Palace 11-0 in the war-time London Combination on 6 April 1918. Syd Puddefoot netted seven times, with Burke (two), Herbert Ashton and Andy Cunningham getting the other goals in front of 4,000 spectators.

• Ten players have made their West Ham United debuts against Crystal Palace - Thomas Lee (September 1907), David Waggott (September 1908), Albert Scanes (March 1910), Thomas Lonsdale (October 1913), Alfred Tirrell (February 1914), William Henderson (March 1922), William Edwards (March 1923), Ade Coker (October 1971), Papa Bouba Diop and Manuel Almunia (both October 2011).

Last time out

Tuesday 15 April 2014
Barclays Premier League
Arsenal 3-1 West Ham United

West Ham United: Adrian, Demel, Tomkins, Reid, Armero, Nocerino, Noble, Diame, Downing (J.Cole 78), Carroll (C.Cole 84), Jarvis (Vaz Te 78)
Subs not used: Jaaskelainen, McCartney, Taylor, Johnson
Goal: Jarvis 40

Wednesday 16 April 2014
Barclays Premier League
Everton 2-3 Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace: Speroni, Mariappa (Parr 68), Ward, Ledley, Dann, Delaney, Puncheon, Jedinak, Jerome (O'Keefe 76), Chamakh (Murray 80), Bolasie
Subs not used: Hennessey, McCarthy, Ince, Gayle
Goals: Puncheon 23, Dann 49, Jerome 73

Previous meeting

The Hammers last travelled to Crystal Palace on Tuesday 3 December and were unable to build on a thumping 3-0 victory over Fulham in their previous game as they went down to a 1-0 loss, with former West Ham loanee Marouane Chamakh hitting the target.

Crystal Palace: Speroni; Ward, Gabbidon, Delaney, Moxey; Puncheon (Kebe 66), Jedinak, Dikagcoi, Bannan (O'Keefe 82); Chamakh (Williams 85), Jerome
Subs not used: Price, Mariappa, Phillips, Gayle
Goal: Chamakh 42

West Ham United: Jaaskelainen; O'Brien, Collins, Tomkins, Rat (McCartney 78); Morrison, Noble, Nolan (J.Cole 58); Downing, C.Cole (Maiga 58), Diame
Subs not used: Adrian, Jarvis, Collison, Demel

Last six meetings

3 December 2013 - Crystal Palace 1-0 West Ham United (Premier League)
25 February 2012 - West Ham United 0-0 Crystal Palace (Championship)
1 October 2011 - Crystal Palace 2-2 West Ham United (Championship)
29 May 2004 - Crystal Palace 1-0 West Ham United (Championship Play-Off final)
12 April 2004 - Crystal Palace 1-0 West Ham United (Championship)
1 October 2003 - West Ham United 3-0 Crystal Palace (Championship)

Overall record v Crystal Palace - W 30 D 22 L 20

Ten-year records

West Ham United

2012/13 Premier League 10th
2011/12 Championship 3rd (promoted to Premier League via Play-Offs
2010/11 Premier League 20th (relegated to Championship)
2009/10 Premier League 17th
2008/09 Premier League 9th
2007/08 Premier League 10th
2006/07 Premier League 15th
2005/06 Premier League 9th
2004/05 Championship 6th (promoted to Premier League via Play-Offs)
2003/04 Championship 4th

Crystal Palace

2012/13 Championship 5th (promoted to Premier League via Play-Offs)
2011/12 Championship 17th
2010/11 Championship 20th
2009/10 Championship 21st
2008/09 Championship 15th
2007/08 Championship 5th
2006/07 Championship 12th
2005/06 Championship 6th
2004/05 Premier League 18th (relegated to Championship)
2003/04 Championship 6th (promoted to Premier League via Play-Offs)

Referee

• Tuesday's match referee will be Martin Atkinson.

• A referee since the age of 16, Atkinson was promoted to the Football League list of assistant referees in 1998. In 2000, Atkinson was promoted to the Select Group of assistant referees, allowing him to run the line in Premier League matches.

• Atkinson joined the National List of referees for the Football League at the start of the 2003/04 season before taking charge of his first Premier League fixture on 20 April 2005 when Manchester City entertained Birmingham City.

• Atkinson was the man in the middle at the 2006 FA Community Shield between Chelsea and Liverpool at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. He also took charge of the 2008 FA Trophy final between Ebbsfleet United and Torquay United at Wembley Stadium.

• Atkinson is refereeing West Ham for the third time this season after taking charge of the Hammers 3-0 win over Fulham in the Barclays Premier League in November and the 5-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup with Budweiser.

General information

• Tickets for this game have SOLD OUT.

• Sunny spells are anticipated on Saturday, with maximum temperatures of 12C (54F)

• No closures are planned on the eastern sections of the District and Hammersmith & City lines this weekend. Please check here for tube updates and here for National Rail.